Team Name________________________________________________________date____

BLOOD-SPATTER ANALYSIS: EFFECT OF HEIGHT ON BLOOD DROPS

Directions: 1. Label (6) index cards with the cm found in the table below.
2 Carefully dispense TWO DROPS of blood per index card for each of the following heights. Try to space
them apart to prevent mixing or merging. Allow a few minutes for the drops to dry
3. Carefully measure the diameter of each drop and then determine the average diameter for each
height. Record your answers in the data table
**Refer to Chapter 10 page 229 in text

Data Table: Effect of Height on Diameter of Blood Drop

Height of drop (cm) Diameter of drop Diameter of drop Average diameter
(cm) (cm) (cm)
25

50

100

150

200

250

Questions:
1. Is there a relationship between the height from which the blood is dropped and the size of
the blood-spatter droplets? Support your answer with data.
Yes, the height of the blood is affects the velocity (increase) and this energy affects the
diameter of the drop, as recorded above.

2. Blood is dropped from heights of 25 cm and 250 cm. Compare and contrast the outer
edges of blood droplets produced from these two heights. (Use diagrams –include spikes
and satellites)
3. Examine the blood spatter produced by dropping blood from the six different heights. Is there
a relationship between the height from which the blood is dropped and the number of satellites
produced? Support your answer with data.
Yes, the height of the blood is again affected by velocity, which increases the amount of
energy which will affect the “cohesiveness “ of blood, allowing small amounts of blood to
escape the drop

4. If someone accidentally dropped two or more drops of blood in the same location, what effect
would it have on the blood-spatter pattern?
The energy from the second drop will force the original drop to break apart-forming
satellites

5. Read p 231 in Text. Using the diagram below, explain how the SHAPE of the blood drop can
determine the ANGLE in which it hit the surface