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 images even with high magnification
• Electron microscope


  Microscope that uses a beam of electrons instead of light to view specimens
• Electron microscope advantages


  • Much greater magnification than light microscope
  • Much higher resolution than light microscope. This means that it can be used to study cells in much finer detail. This has enabled biologists to see and understand many more sub-cellular structures.
• Calculating microscope magnification


  Magnification = Size of image / Size of real object