The Light

Microscope
How a Microscope Works
Convex Lenses are
curved glass used to
make microscopes
(and glasses etc.)
Convex Lenses
bend
light and focus
it in
one spot.
How a Microscope Works
Ocular Lens Objective Lens
(Magnifies Image) (Gathers Light,
Magnifies
And Focuses Image
Body Tube Inside Body Tube)
(Image Focuses)

•Bending Light: The objective (bottom) convex lens

magnifies and focuses (bends) the image inside the
body tube and the ocular convex (top) lens of a
microscope magnifies it (again).
 Ocular Lens

Body Tube

Nose Piece
Arm
Objective
Lenses
Stage
Stage
Clips
Coarse Adj.
Diaphragm Fine Adjustment

Light Source
Base

Skip to Magnification Section

Eyepiece / Ocular Lens
 Magnifies the specimen image
 It is where you look through to view the object placed on the stage.
Body Tube
 It supports the eyepiece and lenses.
 It also maintains the proper distance between the eyepiece and the
objective lenses.
Nose Piece
 Itholds the objective lenses and can be
turned to increase the magnification.
Objective Lenses
 Itis used to magnify the images of the
specimen to form an enlarged image.
Stage Clips
 These 2 clips hold the slide/specimen in
place on the stage.
Diaphragm
 Itcontrols the amount of light on the
slide/specimen

Turn to let more light

in or to make dimmer.
Mirror
It reflects light to the lens of
the microscope.
Arm
 It
is the frame to which the base, body
and stage are attached.
Stage

Supports the
slide/specimen
Coarse Adjustment Knob
Movesthe stage up and down
LARGER focusing of the image.
Fine Adjustment Knob
 Thisknob moves the stage slightly to
sharpen the image for PRECISION
focusing.
Base
Supports the microscope and is also
used for carrying the microscope.
Magnification
 To determine your magnification…you just multiply the ocular
lens by the objective lens
 Ocular 10x Objective 40x:10 x 40 = 400

So the object is 400 times “larger”

Objective Lens have

their magnification
written on them.
Ocular lenses usually
magnifies by 10x
Caring for a Microscope

 Cleanonly with a soft

cloth/tissue

 Make sure it’s on a flat

surface

 Carryit with 2 HANDS…one

on the arm and the other on
the base
Using a Microscope
 Start on the lowest magnification
 Don’t use the coarse adjustment
knob on high magnification …
you’ll break the slide.
 Place slide on stage and lock clips
 Adjust light source/ mirror.
 Use fine adjustment to focus