Month: September 2016

A microscope is a device which we use view and study objects that are not visible to the us with out a device to enhance our eye sight. The parts of a compound microscope are as followed: the eyepiece, the ocular lens, the objective lens, the stage, a condenser,  the condenser adjustment control, the microscope light source, the light switch control, adjustment knobs and nosepeices

One of the features of a microscope is that it has the  ability to enlarge images on a slide. Magnification is provided by a two-lens optical system consisting of the ocular and objective lenses. The ocular lens is on the eyepiece while the objective lens is attached to a rotating nosepiece. Typically, the nosepiece contains four objective lenses, with each lens corresponding to different levels of magnification. The combined magnification of the ocular and objective lenses is the total linear magnification of a microscope. A compound microscope is capable of enlarging an image from 40 to 20,000 times its original size.

Another basic feature of a microscope is its resolving power, otherwise known as the resolution. The two factors that affect the resolution are the wavelength of the light source and the numerical aperture. Electron microscopes provide better resolution and show more detail compared to light microscopes.

The reason microscopes are useful when you study cells in biology is because microscopes allow scientist to look at cell structures and molecular structures.  microscopes enlarge small  cells on a silicon chip and allows you to see what is on the slide through lenses. Doctors use microscopes as well so they can look at blood cells and tissue so they can make a correct diagnosis.

calculating total magnification

how to calculate total magnification is not as hard as you may think. to calculate the magnification is that you take the lens power, usually 4x, 10x, 40x, and simply multiply the power of the eyepiece which is normally 10x.

this is a image on how you can calculate total magnification

HOW TO USE A LIGHT MICROSCOPE

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Rotate the moving lens with the lowest power has been put into position

  Put the slide with the object you want to see on the stage and hold in place with the microscopes stage clips

Take a look at the side through the lens and use the focus knobs so that the stage stage moves up and down. When you look through the lens move the focus knob so until you have a clear image

Adjust the condenser and light intensity for the greatest amount of light.

Move the microscope slide around until the sample is in the center of the field of view

twist the focus knobs so the sample is in the focus and adjust the the condense rand light intensity for the clearest image 

When there is a clear image of the sample, with the lowest power objective, you can then switch to a different lens

when you have an image of your sample you may have to readjust condenser and light intensity. If the image of the slide is not in the focus you will have to readjust the the knobs and the light. if this does not work you may have to use a higher power lens. Do not let the objective lens touch the slide.