EXPERIMENT # 1

The Microscope
I. ANSWER TO QUESTIONS

A. Exercise 1.1 The Compound Microscope

1. What are the three main parts of a compound microscope?

The three main parts are the:
a. Mechanical Parts, which is the framework of the entire microscope
b. Illuminating Parts, used for controlling the light entering the microscope, and;
c. Magnifying Part, for enlargement of objects being observed.

2. In what way does a compound microscope differ from a simple microscope?

The difference between the two microscopes can be established based on
several factors such as the number of lenses, the level of magnification, cost,
portability, and the range of its use.
In terms of the total lenses on each of the microscopes, the simple
microscope has only one lens compared to the compound which has two sets, the
eyepiece and the objective lenses. Because of this factor, the total magnification for
each microscopes vary with each other wherein the compound microscope yields
a higher level of magnification than the simple microscope.
In conclusion, the compound microscope has a wide range of use compared
to the simple microscope. Such uses includes the studying of the cell’s structure,
behavior, and components.

3. Distinguish the differences between the Abbe condenser and the iris diaphragm
functionally speaking?
The Abbe condenser is used to concentrate or focus the light coming from
the diaphragm to the objects found on the stage, which illuminates the specimen
with uniform intensity, while the iris diaphragm is used to regulate the amount of
light entering the microscope which passes through the condenser, and then into
the specimen.

4. Why is it important to take very good care of your microscope?

It is important to take good care of your microscope because. 1) You may
 see things that are not there (mainly because of unnecessary cracks or dusts) or
miss things that are there (because of a damaged part) if you failed to comply the
safety use of it, and 2) Microscopes are expensive together with its individual parts
and a damage may obviously lead to spending of money for repairs or
replacement.

B. Exercise 1.3 Calibration of the Micrometer Eyepiece

1. What is the reason for calibrating the micrometer eyepiece?

Micrometer eyepiece calibration should be practiced to help ensure that the
microscope used will output accurate and valid information. An example for this
occurs when a replicate sample is to be assessed with different microscope and
still yield a result same with original.

2. What is meant by calibration?

According to the International Vocabulary of Metrology, calibration is the
process of finding a relationship between two quantities that are unknown (when
the measurable quantities are not given a particular value for the amount
considered or found a standard for the quantity). When one of quantity is known,
which is made or set with one device, another measurement is made as similar
way as possible with the first device using a second device. The measurable
quantities may differ in two devices which are equivalent.

C. Exercise 1.4 Magnification

1. Does the magnification based upon the length measurement coincide with the
magnification based on the width?
Yes, the magnification based on the length measurement would coincide
with the magnification based on the width.

2. What is wrong if these two magnifications do not coincide?

If the two magnifications does not coincide it means that one of the
lens is distorted thus changing the field of view for the observer.

3. What is meant by a proportional drawing?

Proportional drawing means that the object drawn on the paper has the real
proportions what it has in real life it allow objects look real but just smaller.