What phenomenon occurs when small chips of glass pop off hot glass after being cooled suddenly with cold water?

The correct answer is the phenomenon known as "Checkering of Glass." This occurs when the hot glass is subjected to a rapid temperature change, such as being cooled suddenly with cold water. This rapid temperature drop causes internal stresses within the glass, leading to the formation of small fractures or chips on the surface. These fractures appear in a patterned array, resembling a checkered pattern, which is characteristic of this phenomenon.

Checkering is important in forensic investigations, especially in fire cases, as it can provide valuable information about how a glass object was damaged during a fire or explosion. It helps investigators understand the thermal history of the glass, including whether it was subjected to rapid cooling.

The other options, while related to glass, do not accurately describe this specific phenomenon of small chips popping off due to thermal shock. Short crazing typically refers to fine network cracks, light bulb distortion pertains to alterations in the shape of bulbs due to heat, and reconstruction refers to rebuilding an item from fragments rather than the damage process itself.