What is Physical Evidence?

• A. Unseen or intangible items that require analysis.
• B. Hearsay statements offered to prove a fact.
• C. Tangible items that tend to prove some material fact; also called real evidence.
• D. Speculative interpretations of events.

Answer: (C)

Physical Evidence is tangible items that tend to prove some material fact; also called real evidence. It’s the actual objects, substances, or traces connected to an incident that you can touch, see, measure, or test. This kind of evidence stands on its own or corroborates statements, because you can examine the item itself rather than rely on what someone says about it. It’s different from intangible information or statements (like hearsay) and from speculative interpretations, which are conclusions drawn about what happened rather than the physical item that proves something. Examples in a fire investigation might include debris, an accelerant residue, a damaged component, or footprints—anything you can physically inspect to support a fact.