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Testing Household Materials for Lifting Fingerprints

CSEF · 2016 Product Science (Physical) (Junior Division Only)

Amanda N. Nigro · Talbert (Samuel S.) Middle School, Huntington Beach, Orange County

Overview

Objectives/Goals The experiment tests which household materials will work best as a dusting agent to lift fingerprints off of a glass surface. Methods/Materials Pencil lead, sidewalk chalk, charcoal briquette, cocoa powder, eye-shadow, index cards, clear tape, dusting brushes, glass surface. Dusted and lifted multiple fingerprints using each of the materials and compared to a control. Results Fingerprints that were dusted using five household materials were compared to a control fingerprint. Although all household materials were able to lift part of the prints, pencil lead resulted in lifted prints that most closely matched the control fingerprint. Conclusions/Discussion Based on counting identifiable points, pencil lead resulted in the clearest lifted fingerprints, possibly because of the similar ingredients to actual fingerprint powder.

Summary statement

I showed that household materials can be used as a dusting agent to lift fingerprints, and determined that pencil lead was the most effective.

Help received

None. I designed and performed the experiment myself.

Competition history

  • CSEF 2016 Product Science (Physical) (Junior Division Only) · Entry J2015

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Source: California Science & Engineering Fair public projects

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