A drip stain is a type of bloodstain that results from a falling drop of blood formed due to gravity, rather than from any external force or impact

. These stains are typically created when blood drips from a wound or a blood- covered object and lands on a surface, such as blood dripping from a finger or a knife

. Key characteristics of drip stains:

• They are generally circular or elliptical in shape, depending on the angle at which the drop strikes the surface

• The size of a drip stain is usually between 3 and 25 mm in diameter

• Drip stains are classified as passive bloodstains, meaning they are formed solely by the force of gravity without any additional force or motion

• When multiple drops fall into the same area, they can create a drip pattern , which may include overlapping stains and satellite spatter-small secondary stains that radiate from the main drop

• If the source of the blood is moving while dripping, it can create a drip trail , which is a series of drip stains marking the path of movement

Drip stains are commonly analyzed in forensic investigations to help reconstruct events at a crime scene, as their shape, size, and distribution can provide clues about the position and movement of a bleeding individual or object