Name:___________________________________
Class Period:_______
Balloon Prints
Materials​:
Balloons
Fingerprint ink pad
Marker
Procedure​:
1. Partially inflate a balloon to the size of a tennis ball. Do not tie it off.
2. Open fingerprinting pad and gently roll one fingertip.
3. Apply finger to balloon surface near the center (where the balloon will expand the most), being careful not to
smudge or twist while lifting the finger from the balloon surface. ​DO NOT ROLL. FLAT IMPRESSION
ONLY.
4. Place two prints on the balloon, one on each side. Be careful not to smug.
5. Inflate the balloon and mark each print with your name, hand (right or left), finger (ring, thumb…) and
fingerprint pattern above the print. For example:
Dr. DeNapoli
Right ring finger
Ulnar loop
6. Circle and name at least 10 ridge characteristics on each of the two fingerprints.
7. If time is available, grab a second balloon and analyze 2 more fingers.
8. SHOW YOUR COMPLETED BALLOONS TO GET CREDIT!
Teacher initials: ____________
9. Compare your data to another person in your group. Fill in the data table with their results.
Data:
There are enough rows for all 12 ridge characteristics. You may not see them all on your fingerprints.
Ridge Characteristic
How many times
How many times did a
did you see it?
group member see it?
Name:___________________________________
Class Period:_______
Discussion Questions:
1. Why do we have fingerprints?
2. Are fingerprints unique to each individual? ​Explain​.
3. Which type of a fingerprint is the rarest in the human population?
4. Look at your data as well as data from one of your group members. Which type of ridge characteristic do
you think is the rarest? ​Explain​.
5. What can you do to improve the quality of your fingerprints?
Additional practice:
In the following pictures, circle and name 4 ridge characteristics.
Name:___________________________________
Class Period:_______