Speaking for the Dead: A Look at the Science of Forensic Investigation
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Transcript of Speaking for the Dead: A Look at the Science of Forensic Investigation
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Speaking for the Dead:A Look at the Science of Forensic Investigation
Xenora L. Collins
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What is Forensic Science?Forensic Science is defined as,The application of scientific principlesand methods to the investigation of crime.Put another way, forensic investigation allows us to examine and analyze a crime scene through the steps of the scientific method, and answer our own questions about who, what, when, where, and how the crime was committed. Sound interesting? Read on.
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Narrowing the SpectrumNo thanks to TV series such as CSI and NCIS, forensic investigation has a new following, with a slightly Hollywood-ized twist. Despite Hollywood influence, shows like these incite curiosity.Forensics is a broad subject area. To narrow that subject, this project shall focus on one of the more popular studies in forensics, Bloodstain.
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The ExperimentThe experiment will be to drop a solution of karo syrup and red food coloring to simulate blood from varying heights onto a piece of poster board. The resulting bloodstain will prove or disprove the hypothesis.
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The ProblemWhen observing the crime scene, will the height of the blood source (i.e. victim or weapon) effect the diameter of the resulting bloodstain?
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The HypothesisIf the blood source is further from the surface, then the resulting bloodstain will be of a larger diameter.
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Materials
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ProceduresNote: In this experiment I went only to six feet due to the height of my apartment.
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Variables
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Data & ConversionEach measurement is averaged from the four original stains to reduce the risk of human error.12inDiameter=.5cm Radius=.25cmArea=.25 x3.1415927=.20sq.cm24inDiameter=.75cm Radius=.38cmArea=.38x3.1415927=.45sq.cm36inDiameter=1.0cm Radius=.5cmArea=.5x3.1415927=1.76sq.cm48inDiameter=1.5cm Radius=.75cmArea=.75x3.1415927=1.76sq.cm60inDiameter=.1.25cm+spatter Radius=.62cmArea=.62x3.1415927=.1.20 sq.cm+spatter72inDiameter=1.5cm+spatter Radius=.75cmArea=.75x3.1415927=1.76 sq.cm+spatter
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Graph
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ConclusionHypothesis proven!
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The Final Product
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SourcesHallcox, Jarrett. Bodies Weve Buried: Inside the National Forensic Academy, the Worlds Top CSI Training School. Berkley Publishing Group, New York, NY. 2006. pg.181-189.
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AcknowledgementsSpecial thanks to my mother, Lori Collins, for assisting in photographing the experiment and tolerating bloodstain in her kitchen, of all places. You were really a great sport!
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