Blood Splatter Basics

Forensic scientists can recreate an accident or crime by examining bloodstains. A blood droplet starts out in the shape of a sphere. When it falls straight down to the floor, it usually forms a circle with the same diameter as the sphere. However, when blood hits the floor at an angle, due to the force of a blow, the circle becomes elongated into a shape called an ellipse. The ellipse’s width is the same as the sphere’s diameter, but because of the force in the direction of motion, its length is greater than the sphere’s diameter. Download the example and worksheets to help complete this portion of the culminating activity.

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Blood Splatter & Trigonometry

The angle of Impact q is the acute angle formed by the path of the blood drop and the floor.

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