Activity 1.1.

6: Blood Splatter Analysis

1. Identify the Problem or Question
Problem Statement: How does the height of the blood source effect the blood
patterns?
2. Predict a solution to the problem or an answer to the question.

Hypothesis:
If the blood is dropped from an increased height/distance, then the splatters
will be larger (more spread out) than those dropped from a shorter
distance.
The independent variable is: the height the blood is dropped from
The dependent variable is: the diameter of the blood stain

3. Design the experiment to be used to test your hypothesis.

Materials:

Pipette or bottle with eye-dropper

Ring stand and clamp

Meter stick or measuring tape

Simulated blood

White paper

Paper towels

Procedure:
1. Wear the appropriate personal protective equipment.
2. Obtain all materials.
3. Drop the blood from varying measured heights. Incriments of 20cm.
4. Record the height the blood was dropped from.
5. Record the diameter of the blood splatter.

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Principles of Biomedical Science Activity 1.1.5 Time of Death Experimental Design Page 1

6. Repeat steps 3-5, 5 times increasing the height by 20 cm or until the height of
115 cm is reached.

1 Carry out the experiment.

Height blood
was dropped
from:

Diameter of
blood stain
(mm):

Diameter of
blood stain
(mm):

Trial 1

Trial 2

20 cm

40 cm

60 cm

11

80 cm

10

100 cm

10

115 cm

13

13

Graph:

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

Class Results:
Height blood
was dropped
from:

Diameter of
blood stain
(mm):

Diameter of
blood stain
(mm):

Trial 1

Trial 2

20 cm

40 cm

60 cm

11

80 cm

10

100 cm

10

115 cm

13

13

7. State the conclusion.

Conclusion:
The hypothesis was correct because the data showed that the diameter of the blood
splatter increased as the height it was dropped from increased.

Summary Paragraph:
As the height from which the blood was dropped increased, the diameter of the blood
splatter increased by an average of 1mm for every 20 cm that the dropper was raised.
To better the experiment, more trials should be conducted to improve the accuracy of
the data. Overall, the data proved the hypothesis correct.

2013 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

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