Microscopy

Microscope Identification

Terminology
Microscopy is a technique used to

increase the size of specimen.

Magnification: the quality of making an

image appear larger than its actual size.

Resolution: a measure of the clarity of an

image.

Self Check
Shantel wanted to see what her skin cells

looked like under a microscope. After making a wet-mount slide, she began studying the specimen with her compound microscope. While peering through the eyepiece, Shantel noticed that the image was clear (not blurry), but was not large enough.
Is Shantel having an issue with resolution

or magnification?

Magnification

Whats My Power?
To calculate the power of magnification,

multiply the power (magnification) of the eye piece by the power of the objective lens.

10 x 40 = 400

Practice
Eye Piece x Objective Lens = Total Magnification
Practice: Shakeem wanted to determine the total

magnification of his microscope. He noticed that the eye piece had a magnification of 10x and the highest powered objective lens was 50x. What is the total magnification of Shakeems microscope?

More Practice
Marco is using a microscope that

has a total magnification of 200. What is the power of Marcos objective lens?

Comparing Powers of Magnification

We can see better details

with higher powers of magnification, but we cannot see as much of the image.

Application
Which of these images would be viewed at

a higher power of magnification?

How were you able to determine the

correct answer?

The image is larger, but less of the image can be seen.

Types of Microscopes
Dissecting Microscope

Light/Compound Microscope

Electron Microscope

Dissecting Microscope
Light reflects off the

surface of the object

You can see the object

with the naked eye

Magnifies 5x-30x

Compound Microscope
Light shines through the

object

Objects are to small to be

seen with the naked eye.

Magnifies 100x-400x

Electron Microscope
Uses electrons to form an

image of an object

Objects are too small to see

with a compound microscope.

i.e. viruses and bacteria

Magnification power: 200,000 x

Practice
Darnell wanted to see the cellular

makeup of a bacterial cell. Which microscope will provide Darnell with enough magnification power to see 200,000 x greater than the naked eye to view the bacterial cell? Electron Microscope

How to Make a Wet-Mount Slide

1. Get a clean slide and coverslip from your teacher. 2. Carefully place your specimen on the glass slide. 3. Place one drop of water on top of your specimen. 4. Slowly lower the cover slip on top of the specimen at a

45 degree angle.

Why 45 degrees?
Lowering a coverslip on top

of your specimen at a 45 degree angle very important!

This prevents air bubbles

from being trapped under the coverslip.

Air bubbles make it

difficult to look at your specimen.