56
Image 2
solving crimes with physics
• the position of the victim at the time of the attack
• whether the blood flowed out in spurts or gushed slowly
• how hard the blow that caused the bleeding was
• how many blows fell
• sometimes, where the attacker was standing during the attack
A number of important factors can have a significant effect on a spat-
ter pattern. Using principles of physics, an investigator can determine the
angle of impact of the blood droplets. Droplets that fall straight down onto
a surface typically leave nearly circular stains where they fall. As the angle
changes from 90°, the spatter stains become more elongated. Calculations
