Science OlympiadForensics EventHints, Tips, Things to Prep

Whats NewEach team member may bring notesBunsen burnerPS (polystyrene) limited to non-expandedFingerprints8 NCIC classificationsdevelopment techniquesDNAPCR (not cell division)Blood typeABOavian vs mammalian vs reptilian

OverviewStory arc presentssuspectstypes of evidencewhich exhibit goes w/ which suspectexhibit listTable of Resultsin notes?Crime SceneSuspect 1Suspect 2Suspect 3SuspectsEvidencePowderFiberHairPolyGr 2Gr 2

Prep the TeamDivide the responsibilitiesTrust each otherPerson 1start the chromatogrampowder testsPerson 2prep the Table of Resultspolymershairfibers

Make the "Notes" page8" x 11 "allowed 2 sheets this yearhand writtenthere are 2 sides to a sheet of paperTable of Test Results dichotomous keysentomologyflowcharts for testspolymer density

Make the "Notes" pagetables of expected resultspowderswhich test yields which positive indicationdistinguishing characteristicshairfibersglassformulasRfspatter

PrepPack the "Kit"see list in Rulesex: thermometernon-mercury (safety clause)does not specify analog or digitalex: test tubes or any devise in which they can perform testspluraltest tubes spot plates, well plateshave enough to run all tests w/o washingwaterproof box for dirty stuffex: paper towelspluraldoes not specify all the same typepack plenty (include enough for cleanup)

Categories of ExemplarsPowdersPolymersFibersHairChromatographyAny 2(R), 3(S), 4(N) offingerprintsDNAglassentomologyspatterseeds & pollentracks & soilsblood typebullet striations

Prep - PowdersDevelop a Flowchart

Practice the testschart of results in "Notes"count equipment needed for "Kit"

SolubleIodine TestHCl TestFlame TestCornstarchCalcium CarbonateCalcium SulfatePosElectrolyticYesBenedict'sNoGlucoseSucroseNegNoPosPospHmild acidAmmoniumChlorideYesHCl TestvinegarsmellSodium AcetatebaseCO2 Testno smellpH10YesSodium ChlorideCalcium NitrateLithium ChloridePotassium Chlorideyellow/orangered/orangecrimsonpurpleFlame TestNoMagnesium Sulfateyellowno effectBoric AcidFlame Testfaint greenblue/green

Prep - PolymersBurn Test Results

Polymer"Burn" BehaviorPETEBubbles; slow burn; soot; pungentHDPEFast burn; clean; drips flames; white smokeLDPEFast burn; clean; drips flames; white smokePSFast burn; lots of black sootPPSlow burn; some drips flamePVCMelts more than burns; self-extinguishingPMMABright flame; no smokePCSlow burn / smolder; no smell; self-extinguishing

Prep - PolymersDensity Dichotomous Key

Prep - FibersMicroscopic Examinationcotton twisted flat ribbon

wool hair; imbricate scales

Prep - FibersMicroscopic Examinationsilk double ribbon

linen - bamboo

Prep - FibersMicroscopic Examinationnylon - tri-lobe cross-section

polyester - round cross-section; delustering pits

Fibers Burn Tests

Prep - HairHumanMedullary index < 1/3even distribution of pigmentHuman HairsHair Cross-Section

Prep - HairAnimalMedullary index > 1/2Dogcontinuous medullascales usually not visibleovoid bodiesroot is spade-like

Prep - HairAnimalMedullary index > 1/2Catuniserial medulla; very largespinous scales root looks frayed

Prep - HairOther Stuff to Knowcuticle scale patternscoronal (crown like)imbricate (flat; think shingles)spinous (petals; think asparagus tips) medulla patterns (Nationals)tracediscontinuouscontinuousuniserial laddermultiserial ladderamorphous (bubbly)

Prep - ChromatographyHow to "run" a chromatogramHow to measure Rf

Prep - ChromatographyTypical chromatograms

Prep Mass SpectroscopyConsider affinityarea under curve % concentration

Optional - Fingerprintsarch

tentedarch

loopradialulnar

Optional - Fingerprintswhorl

centralpocket

doubleloopaccidental

Optional - FingerprintsMinutiabifurcationtrifurcationridgeislanddotdelta

Optional - FingerprintsDetectionpowdercyanoacrylate fumingamino acids, fatty acids, proteinsnon-porous surfacesiodine fumingfats, oilsporous surfacesnoxious, corrodes surfacessilver nitratesaltsninhydrinamino acidskills living tissues

Optional DNA Chromatogram PCR DNA copy machine

Option - GlassIndex of RefractionHot-Stage MicroscopeStress LinesOrder of fractures

Option - EntomologyTime Lines

Blow Flylarvamaggotpupaadult

Beetlesusually arrive after blow flies

Option - SpatterDirectionalityAngle of ImpactDroplet Size

Option Seeds, pollenvisual microscopic comparison

Option Tracksvisual comparisonsdirectionality

Option Soilscompare compositionmicroscopic examinationsoil triangle

Option Blood TypeABO blood typeperform antigen testsRBC, WBC, platlethuman vs avian vs reptilian

Option Bulletscomparison of striations

Science OlympiadForensics EventHints, Tips, Things to Prep

*****Read the rulessingular vs pluralbuild the kit while practicing the tests*Required Groups - 55%Optional Groups 15%Analysis 30%*