Microscopy

• What is the primary function of microscopes?

  Microscopes let us see things that we can't see with the naked eye.
• What are the two main types of microscopes?

  • Light Microscopes
  • Electron Microscopes
• How do light microscopes form an image?

  Light microscopes use light and lenses to form an image of a specimen and magnify it.
• What can light microscopes allow us to see?

  They let us see individual cells and large subcellular structures, like the nuclei.
• What is the main difference between electron microscopes and light microscopes?

  Electron microscopes use electrons instead of light to form an image.
• What can electron microscopes allow us to see in more detail?

  They let us see smaller things in more detail, like the internal structure of mitochondria and chloroplasts.
• What are some of the smallest structures that electron microscopes can reveal?

  They can reveal structures like ribosomes and plasmids.
• What is the formula for magnification?

  Magnification = Image Size / Real Size
• What is required to observe a specimen under a light microscope?

  • The specimen must be placed on a microscope slide.
  • A slide is a strip of clear glass or plastic onto which the specimen is mounted.
• What are the main components of a light microscope?

  • Eyepiece lens
  • Coarse focusing wheel
  • Fine focusing wheel
  • Objective lens
  • Stage
  • Light source
• What are the steps to use a light microscope?

  1. Clip the slide onto the stage.
  2. Select the lowest-powered objective lens.
  3. Use the coarse focusing wheel to move the stage up.
  4. Look down the eyepiece and use the coarse focusing wheel to focus.
  5. Adjust the focus with the fine focusing wheel for clarity.
  6. Swap to a higher-powered objective lens if greater magnification is needed.