Microscopy

• The resolution of a microscope refers to its ability to distinguish between closely spaced details on a specimen.
• The magnification of a microscope is the ability to make an object appear larger than it is.
• Experimental error is a difference between a measured value and it's true value.
• Random error is an error in a measurement due to small uncontrollable effects.
• Random error is caused by a human error.
• Zero error is when a measuring device indicates a value when the quantity being measured is zero.
• Uncertainty is an interval within which the true value is expected to lie.
• Systematic error an error due to the measured value differing from the true value by the same value each time.
• To prevent systematic error change the equipment being used.
• Systematic error is caused by faulty equipment.
• An accurate result has a small difference between the actual value and the calculated value.
• A random error can be reduced by repeating measurements many times, taking the mean of all results.
• The highest magnification on a light microscope is 1500x - 2000x
• The three cell theories:

  1. Both plant and animal tissue composed of cells.
  2. Cells are the most basic unit of life.
  3. Cells only develop from existing cells.
• If two objects are closer than half the wavelength of light 200nm they will be seen as one object.
• Cells are fundamental units that contain sub-cellular structures/organelles.