Microscopy

• Microscope


  Device that uses light or electrons to magnify and view small objects
• Light microscope


  • Used to study cells
  • Allows us to make important discoveries about cell structures like the nucleus
• Light microscope limitations


  • Limited magnification
  • Limited resolution - blurred image even with increased magnification
• Electron microscope


  • Much greater magnification and resolution than light microscope
  • Allows detailed exploration of structures inside cells
• Calculating microscope magnification


  Magnification = Size of image / Size of real object
• Calculating magnification


  • Nucleus image size = 45mm, Actual nucleus diameter = 0.01mm, Magnification = 45mm / 0.01mm = 4500x
• Calculating magnification


  • Mitochondrion image size = 30mm, Actual mitochondrion length = 0.003mm, Magnification = 30mm / 0.003mm = 10000x
• Calculating real object size

  • Image size = 87mm, Magnification = 2000x, Real cell size = 87mm / 2000 = 0.0435mm
• Microscopes were first invented hundreds of years ago
• Modern microscopes are much more advanced than early microscopes
• Both light and electron microscopes use light to view specimens