BLOOD SPATTER ANALYSIS EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2025
blood spatter analysis was adopted in practical manner in US after what court case? - Answers 1954
Sheppard case
blood spatter analysis can provide what information? - Answers -who shed blood?
-how did it get where it was found?
-what was the sequence of events that led to this pattern?
-origin of blood stain
-type of instrument causing stain
-direction from which it struck victim
-relative position of victim/assailant
-# of blows/gun shots
-truthfulness of suspects/witnesses
what is blood held together by? - Answers surface tension
surface tension - Answers cohesive forces that produce a surface resistant to penetration or separation
before a drop of blood can fall, what needs to happen? - Answers gravitational attraction for the drop
must exceed surface tension
*surface tension is broken w/ energy
shape and size of blood drop depends on what four factors? - Answers size of drop
velocity
angle
type of surface hit
how fast does a drop of blood fall? - Answers increases speed as it falls until it hits terminal velocity (25
ft/ second)
when a drop of blood strikes at a right angle, spatter pattern forms what shape? - Answers even circle
around point of impact
when a drop of blood strikes at a smaller angle than 90 degrees, what shape does it create? - Answers
oval pattern w/ narrow/pointed end aiming in direction of travel
, these surfaces create small patterns of blood spatter - Answers smooth surfaces like glass, tile, and
marble
when a drop of blood falls onto a hard surface, what can happen to the drops? - Answers small
secondary/satellite droplet may surround initial circular stain
with drops that hit smooth surfaces at less than 90 degrees- secondary stains are elongated but tails of
satellite droplets point which direction? - Answers point where they came from (NOT direction they are
traveling)
spatters can be produced by what mechanisms? - Answers stabbings
beatings
gunshots
arterial bleeds
cast-off blood
splashing
expirated blood
impact angle - Answers slant at which blood drops strike surface
directionality - Answers course the blood drop followed
how is impact angle determined? - Answers using blood stain's width to length ratio
what is directionality used for? - Answers used to make point of convergence and point of origin
determinations
point of convergence - Answers 2d representation of the point where lines tracking the pathways of 2 or
more spatters meet
at the scene, strings are attached from each stain according to direction of impact...where strings meet
equal the - Answers point of convergence
point of origin - Answers 3d representation of the point where lines tracking, not only the pathways, but
also angles of impact of 2 or more spatters meet
what does the point of origin indicate? - Answers general spatial location of blood source
void pattern - Answers absence of blood spatter in area you'd otherwise expect it
*could show where attacker was standing b/c body prevents blood from spattering behind it
you can classify projected spatter two different ways: - Answers type of spatter
blood spatter analysis was adopted in practical manner in US after what court case? - Answers 1954
Sheppard case
blood spatter analysis can provide what information? - Answers -who shed blood?
-how did it get where it was found?
-what was the sequence of events that led to this pattern?
-origin of blood stain
-type of instrument causing stain
-direction from which it struck victim
-relative position of victim/assailant
-# of blows/gun shots
-truthfulness of suspects/witnesses
what is blood held together by? - Answers surface tension
surface tension - Answers cohesive forces that produce a surface resistant to penetration or separation
before a drop of blood can fall, what needs to happen? - Answers gravitational attraction for the drop
must exceed surface tension
*surface tension is broken w/ energy
shape and size of blood drop depends on what four factors? - Answers size of drop
velocity
angle
type of surface hit
how fast does a drop of blood fall? - Answers increases speed as it falls until it hits terminal velocity (25
ft/ second)
when a drop of blood strikes at a right angle, spatter pattern forms what shape? - Answers even circle
around point of impact
when a drop of blood strikes at a smaller angle than 90 degrees, what shape does it create? - Answers
oval pattern w/ narrow/pointed end aiming in direction of travel
, these surfaces create small patterns of blood spatter - Answers smooth surfaces like glass, tile, and
marble
when a drop of blood falls onto a hard surface, what can happen to the drops? - Answers small
secondary/satellite droplet may surround initial circular stain
with drops that hit smooth surfaces at less than 90 degrees- secondary stains are elongated but tails of
satellite droplets point which direction? - Answers point where they came from (NOT direction they are
traveling)
spatters can be produced by what mechanisms? - Answers stabbings
beatings
gunshots
arterial bleeds
cast-off blood
splashing
expirated blood
impact angle - Answers slant at which blood drops strike surface
directionality - Answers course the blood drop followed
how is impact angle determined? - Answers using blood stain's width to length ratio
what is directionality used for? - Answers used to make point of convergence and point of origin
determinations
point of convergence - Answers 2d representation of the point where lines tracking the pathways of 2 or
more spatters meet
at the scene, strings are attached from each stain according to direction of impact...where strings meet
equal the - Answers point of convergence
point of origin - Answers 3d representation of the point where lines tracking, not only the pathways, but
also angles of impact of 2 or more spatters meet
what does the point of origin indicate? - Answers general spatial location of blood source
void pattern - Answers absence of blood spatter in area you'd otherwise expect it
*could show where attacker was standing b/c body prevents blood from spattering behind it
you can classify projected spatter two different ways: - Answers type of spatter
