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What makes a fingerprint? The skin on your fingertip has a pattern of ridges on it. Sweat and oil get trapped in the ridges and make a sticky film. When you touch something, the sticky film gets left behind and makes a fingerprint. Everyone has ridges on the tips of their fingers but no two fingerprints are exactly alike. Scientists compare fingerprints and group them according to the similar ridge patterns they find. Most people’s fingerprints look like a whorl, loop, or arch.
Fingerprint Patterns Loop Whorl Arch
Use the Scientific Method • Step 1 State the Problem/Ask a Question- Which fingerprint pattern is more common in our class?
Use the Scientific Method • Step 2 Gather Information- The information has already been gathered.
Use the Scientific Method • Step 3 Form Hypothesis- I think the most common fingerprint pattern in our class is the _______ because, _________.
Use the Scientific Method • Step 4 Perform an Experiment-Collect fingerprint samples from every class member.
Use the Scientific Method • Step 5 Analyze Data- Determine the type of fingerprint pattern everyone has and graph the results.
Use the Scientific Method • Step 6 Draw Conclusions- Was your hypothesis correct?