Project 1.1.

6: Blood Splatter Analysis

Steps of Experimental Design
Identify the Problem or Question
Problem Statement: How will the amount of blood dropped from varying
heights affect the bloodstain (and splatter)?
Predict a solution to the problem or an answer to the question.
Hypothesis:If we drop different amounts of blood from varying heights, then
the data will show that the higher heights resulted in a larger bloodstain,
because gravity affects the drop(s) of blood for a longer amount of time.
The independent variable is: The height that the blood is dropped from, also
the differences in amounts of blood dropped
The dependent variable is: the width of the splatter
Design the experiment to be used to test your hypothesis.
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
Simulated blood
White paper
Paper towels
Career Journal
Career Journal Guidelines
PLTW Biomedical Science Documentation Protocol

Procedure:
1. Wear the appropriate personal protective equipment.
2. Obtain a large, open area to do experiment.
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3. Obtain six pieces of white paper, labeled one through six, and lay them out
correspondingly on the ground.
4. Collect the yard stick, ruler, and the blood in the container with the dropper.
5. Using the yardstick, measure one foot from paper number one on the ground up.
6. Release one drop of blood from one foot, measure width of bloodstain on paper
with ruler and record data.
7. Re-measure 1 ft on a separate, blank part of paper number one from the ground
up.
8. Release two drops of blood from one foot so that they land one on top of the
other. Measure width of bloodstain on paper with ruler and record data.
9. Re-measure 1 ft on a separate, blank part of paper number one from the ground
up.
10. Release three drops of blood from one food so that they land one on top of the
other on the paper. Measure width of bloodstain on paper with ruler and record
data.
11. Repeat experiment from two, three, four, five, and six feet onto the corresponding
paper on the ground.
12. Record data.
13. Repeat entire experiment for a total of three trials.
14. Record data.
15. Clean area, leaving no trace of blood.

Carry out the experiment.

Height Blood
Dropped (ft)

One drop:
width (mm)

Two drops:
width (mm)

Three drops:
width (mm)

13

17

13

15

11

16

19

12

17

17

13

18

20

14

19

29

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Analyze the data and observations.

Graph:

State the conclusion.

Conclusion: The hypothesis was correct, because for the majority of the
results, the higher the blood was dropped, the wider the width was.
Summary Paragraph
Summary: When this experiment is redone, it would be wise to divide it into
two separate experiments, as it is difficult to have two independent
variables. Also, a more accurate way to measure height is recommended.
However, the experiment went well and showed results that will be able to
be considered in the Anna Garcia case. Blood dropped from a higher height
will have a larger bloodstain, as will a larger amount of blood.

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