HARVEY ’ S MISSION
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AQUiLA MAGAZINE
FORENSICS
Investigate blood patterns
Did you enjoy the blood spatter science in the Forensics issue of AQUILA magazine ? Fancy making your own fake blood ? Then READ ON !
HARVEY ’ S MISSION
Ever wondered how forensic scientists study blood spatter at a crime scene ? Well , now ’ s your chance to find out ! This hands-on activity will teach you how to make fake blood that mimics the consistency of fresh blood and then use it to investigate different blood drop patterns . From dripping to flinging , your mission is to explore how blood behaves under various conditions . Ready to get your hands bloody ?
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Follow the steps below to create your fake blood and explore how it behaves . From perfect circular droplets to splatters , you ’ ll be learning all about bloodstain patterns like a true forensic scientist !
ACTIVITY SKILLS
1 hour
DIFFICULTY
Step 1 :
Pour 90 ml of water into a bowl . Add the Angel Delight powder and stir well , pressing the back of the spoon against the bowl to get rid of lumps .
Step 2 :
Add the red food colouring , a little at a time , until the mixture looks more like blood . Want it darker ? Add a drop or two of purple , blue , or black food dye .
Step 3 :
Let it thicken – leave the mixture at room temperature for 2-3 hours . Stir well before use .
Step 4 :
Place a sheet of white paper on a flat covered tray or chopping board and place on a covered surface ( covered to avoid stains ). Use the teaspoon to drip the mixture one drop at a time onto the paper . Drop from directly above ( from a right angle to the surface ) to get round droplets with spines and satellite drops around the edge . Experiment with different heights or sizes of drops – what changes ?
YOU WILL NEED :
o Small glass , jam jar or ceramic bowl ( plastic might stain )
o Metal teaspoon o 90 ml water
o 5 g strawberry Angel Delight powder
o Red food colouring ( Supercook Scarlet is recommended for best results )
o White paper o Chopping board or tray o An old piece of fabric ( optional )
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