Grade 7 Science (microscope parts and function)

• Microscope


  A tool that can help you see tiny objects and living organisms
• Major parts of a microscope

  • Magnifying
  • Illuminating
  • Mechanical
• Magnifying parts


  • Where the specimen in focus appears larger
  • Ocular (eyepiece) - a lens attached to a draw tube
  • Objective lenses - primary optical lenses ranging from 4x to 100x magnification, typically including 3 lenses: high power, low power, and oil immersion
• Illuminating parts


  • Supply and regulate light towards the focused specimen
  • Mirror - reflects light from an external source up through the bottom of the stage
  • Diaphragm - controls the amount of light reaching the specimen, located above the condenser and below the stage
  • Stage condenser - collects and focuses light from the illuminator onto the specimen, located under the stage often with an iris diaphragm
• Mechanical parts


  • Used to support and adjust other parts
  • Body tube - separates the objective and eyepiece, maintains alignment
  • Coarse adjustment knob - moves the tube up and down
  • Fine adjustment knob - brings the specimen into sharp focus under low power, used for all focusing with high power
  • Arm - curved part that supports the body tube, used for transporting
  • Inclination joint - connects the arm to the base, helps incline the microscope
  • Stage clip - holds the glass slide in place
  • Stage - flat surface where the mounted slide is placed
  • Base - provides support for the microscope