Magnification & Microscopy

• What's the equation for magnification?

  image size / real size
• Light microscope magnifies in less detail than an electron microscope
• Electron microscopes have a higher magnification than light microscopes.
• Light microscopes are simple to use
• Electron microscopes require training to use
• Electron microscopes use a shorter wavelength with a beam of electron compared to a light microscope which uses a longer wavelength with a beam of light
• Light microscopes are smaller and cheaper whereas electron microscopes are large and expensive
• The resolving power is the ability of a lens or microscope to distinguish between two closely spaced objects as separate entities, rather than seeing them fused together into one object
• Light microscopes see in colour electron microscopes see in black and white
• A sample must be dead in an electron microscope whereas with a light microscope it can still be alive