Activity 1.1.

6: Blood Splatter Analysis

Experimental Design
1. Identify the Problem
Problem Statement: How do different heights effect bloodstain patterns?
2. Predict a solution to the problem

Hypothesis: If we drop the blood from a higher height, then the blood
will also increase the size of the blood pattern.

The independent variable is: Height in which the blood is dropped

The dependent variable is: Splatter and size the blood drop creates

3. Design the experiment

Materials:

Computer
Laboratory journal
PBS Course File
Unit 1 Investigative Notes Resource Sheet
Goggles
Gloves
Project 1.1.6 Student Response Sheet
Experimental Design Resource Sheet
Time of Death Experimental Design Resource Sheet
Height Determination
Graph student response sheet Possible materials for experiment:
Pipette or bottle with eye-dropper
Micropipettor
Stand and clamp
Meter stick or measuring tape
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Principles of Biomedical Science Activity 1.1.5 Time of Death Experimental Design Page 1

Simulated blood
White paper
Paper towels

Procedure:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Gather all materials needed for the experiment

Wear the appropriate personal protective equipment
Determine amount of blood simulator to put in the pipette or eyedropper
Place the white paper on the floor
Take the meter stick and measure to a height that you want to test
Take the dropper of blood simulator and hold it next to the meter stick with the bottom
end of the dropper at 25cm
7. Record the height the blood simulator was dropped from
8. Repeat steps 4-6 for heights 50cm, 75cm, and 100cm
9. Measure the diameter of all bloodstains
Take all safety conerns into account
Identifiy a control to be used for comparison
Control all outside variables that could affect the outcome of the experiment
Clearly deifne how the data will be collected and recorded, including measurement and
units
Design a data table to use to record information
Plan the strategy that will be used to summarize the data. For example, a graph might
be used to summarize the data

4. Carry out the experiment.

Evidence Record
Height the
blood is
dropped :

Diameter of
Blood Splatter
(mm):

25cm

7mm

50cm

10mm

75cm

12mm

100cm

15mm

5. Analyze the data and observations.

Graph:
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Principles of Biomedical Science Activity 1.1.5 Time of Death Experimental Design Page 2

Size of Blood Splatters from Different Heights

16
14

Size of Splatter

12

Diameter of Blood10Splater (mm)

8

Height Dropped (cm)

6
4
2
0
25

50

75

100

6. State the conclusion.

Conclusion: The hypothesis was correct because the blood splatters

size did increase as the height in increased.

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Principles of Biomedical Science Activity 1.1.5 Time of Death Experimental Design Page 3

7. Summary Paragraph

Summary Paragraph:
In this experiment the blood splatter size increased as the height
increased. The data started at 25cm the blood splatter was measured at
7mm, for 50cm the blood splatter was recored at 10mm. Each
measurement slowly went up as the height went up which continued as the
75cm drop was measured at 12mm, and finally the 100cm drop recored the
highest size with a 15mm blood splatter. The 15mm blood splatter was 8mm
larger than the drop at 25cm showing just how much height can effect the
sizing of the blood. These recordings show that as the height that the blood
was dropped increased, so did the size of the blood splatter.

2013 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Principles of Biomedical Science Activity 1.1.5 Time of Death Experimental Design Page 4