Forensic Science!!

Forensic Science

1. Write the definition of forensic science in your own words?

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/forensic

Forensic science to me is all about fingerprints and investigations.

It is also about scientific tests or techniques used in connection with the detection of crime.

2. What are the 5 different things that forensic scientists do?
    Look at the "What you will do" section on the careers website.

- Visit crime scenes to find evidence.

- Identify drugs found on people, in body fluids or at crime scenes.

- Train police staff in collecting evidence.

-  Identify drugs found on people, in body fluids or at crime scenes.

-  Take notes and draw sketches of crime scenes

Fingerprints

Aim: To look at the different types of fingerprints.

Materials: 

1. Human Finger
2.    Balloon
3.  An Inkpad  

Steps

1.   Get a human finger
2.  Get an Inkpad
3. Dip the human finger on the ink pad
4. Now blow the up balloon

Record the types of fingerprints from those in your group.

Name	Fingerprint 1 (Thumb)	Fingerprint 2 (index finger)
Shreya (Me)	Whorl	Whorl
Nevaeh	Whorl	Arch

Questions:

Do people always have the same type of fingerprint on their thumb and index finger?

 I had the same. Nevaeh had a whorl on her thumb and an arch on her index finger.

What was the most common type of fingerprint in your group?

The most common type of fingerprint in my group was 'Whorl'.

Hidden fingerprints:

Aim: To learn how to lift hidden fingerprints from an object.

1. Lifting and Gathering fingerprints.

Equipment:

1. Tape  
2.   Baby Powder
3.   Black paper
4. Transparent Paper
5. Tape
6. Any kind of brush - not a toothbrush though. One that looks similar to this

Method: 

1. Get your transparent piece of paper 
2. Press any of your fingers against the paper and hold. Make sure not to move around because it can smudge.
3.   Release your finger and grab your baby powder.
4. Brush the area where your fingerprint is with the help of your brush.
5. Throw away the access powder and grab your tape.
6. Put tape of the area where your fingerprint is and smooth it out.
7. Slowly peel the tape off.
8. Put the piece of tape on the black piece of paper.

Results:

Insert a photo of your lifted fingerprints here:

Conclusion Questions:

Did you manage to lift clear fingerprints?
Yes, kind of.

What could you do to improve your results next time?

 I would put more pressure on the transparent paper.

Why do you think fingerprints are useful to crime scene investigators?
Fingerprints are unique, everyone's is different. That's why phones have Fingerprint ID to log in. Police/Investigators can get the suspects to fill in their fingerprints. Then they can match the fingerprints of the suspects and the fingerprints found on the crime scene.

I loved, loved, loved this experiment! I love Forensic Science, it makes me feel like a spy/detective. Seeing the results was my favourite part because then I could focus on what I could've done better next time.