Microscopy

• There are two types of microscopes:

  • The light microscope
  • The electron microscope
• The first light microscope was used in 1590
• The first electron microscope was used in 1960
• Resolution is the shortest distance between two objects that can be seen clearly
• Electron microscopes have a higher magnification and resolution than light microscopes
• Light microscopes let us see structures, like nuclei and mitochondria
• Electron microscopes let us see the internal structures of a chloroplast and mitochondrion.
• Magnification is the number of times bigger the image looks compared to the object
• Image is what is viewed through the microscope lenses
• Object is actual specimen under the microscope
• You can calculate the magnification of an image by using the equation:

  Magnification = Image Size / Object Size