Which item would be considered Physical Evidence in an investigation?

• A. A burnt piece of fabric.
• B. An opinion from a bystander.
• C. A city ordinance.
• D. A weather report.

Answer: (A)

Physical evidence consists of tangible items that can be recovered, preserved, and analyzed. A burnt piece of fabric is exactly that—a real, physical object from the scene that investigators can examine in a lab to identify fibers, fabric type, burn patterns, and any residues. These analyses can provide objective data about what happened.

An opinion from a bystander is testimonial evidence—what someone says—not a physical item that can be tested. A city ordinance is documentary evidence—a written record, which is information but not a physical object from the scene itself. A weather report is data or information, not a physical item that can be collected and analyzed.