DepEd-NSTIC

NAME ___________________________________ GROUP ______________

SECTION _________________________________ DATE ______________

Exercise 4
SECTION ____________________________________ DATE ______________
THE COMPOUND MICROSCOPE
Objectives:

1. Label the different parts of the microscope and explain their functions.
2. Focus and view the specimen using the different objectives of a compound
microscope.
3. Demonstrate the proper way of handling and storage of the microscope.

Equipment: Materials:
1 unit compound microscope 2 pcs. glass slides
2 pcs. cover slips
4 pcs. of cutout letter “e”
1 pc. medicine dropper
Water
Tissue paper

A. Proper Handling and Storing

1. Take the microscope from the storage cabinet.

2. Refrain from handling the microscope with wet hands to avoid accumulation of
moisture.

3. Always carry the microscope with both hands in an upright position. Grasp the arm
with one hand and place the other hand at the base for support.
Always carry it close to your body. See Figure 1.

4. After using, keep the microscope clean and dry, making sure that the
eyepiece is in line with the scanner. Place the microscope in its box and
place it inside the cabinet for safekeeping. Never remove the silica
gel from the box to prevent moisture and keep the microscope dry.

Figure 1. Holding the

microscope
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B. Manipulating the Microscope

Eyepiece

Body tube
Revolving nosepiece Coarse adjustment knob
Scanner
Low Power Objective Fine adjustment knob
(LPO) Arm
Glass slides High Power Objective (HPO)
Diaphragm Stage clip
Stage
Inclination joint
Mirror

Base

IllFigure 2.
The Microscope
1. Set the microscope’s diaphragm and adjust the mirror to a light
source in order to obtain good lighting. Refer to Figure 3.
Figure 3.
2. Set the objective with the lowest magnification by rotating the
revolving nosepiece until you hear the clicking sound. Adjusting the mirror
3. Place the microscope slide on the stage. Use the stage clips to hold the slide.
4. Using the coarse adjustment knob, move the objective lenses downward without
touching the glass slides. (Note: You may look at the slide and lens from the side
when doing this.)
5. Slowly turn the coarse adjustment knob upward until an image comes into focus. Use
the fine adjustment knob for a clear focus. Refer to Figure 3. (Note that it would be
difficult to focus using a high power objective if you fail to focus the image at the
lower power objective.)
6. Move the glass slide around so that the image is in Turn the
the center of the field of view. Adjust the mirror and coarse
the diaphragm for the clearest image. adjustment
7. Note that other microscopes may have a pointer that knob in
can be seen in the viewing field. Rotate the eyepiece upward
until the pointer points to any part of the specimen direction
you want to focus on.
when
focusing
Figure 4.
Turning the adjustment knob
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C. Activity Procedure:

1. Cut the smallest “e” you can find from an old newspaper.
2. Place the letter “e” face up on the glass slide and add a drop of water using the
medicine dropper.
3. Slowly put a cover slip on a glass slide by positioning it at 45° angle until it touches the
drop of water. This is to avoid a bubble formation on the glass slide.
4. Place the prepared slide on the microscope stage.
5. Look through the eyepiece and observe the specimen under the scanner.
6. After getting a clear focus under the scanner, move the glass slide to the right, then to
the left, up, and down. Observe the direction of the letter each time you move it.
7. Accomplish Table 1 and answer the questions that follow.

Table No. 1. Direction: Draw the letter “e” as seen under the Scanner, LPO, and HPO.

Scanning Power Objective Low Power Objective High Power Objective

(5X) (10X – 20X) (40X – 100X)

Direction: Answer each question in not more than three sentences.

1. What is the proper way of carrying the microscope?

2. What are the parts of a microscope? Describe the function of each.
3. What are the three objectives in a compound light microscope? How will you
differentiate each objective?
4. Why is it important to start adjusting the objective at its lowest and moving upward
when focusing?
5. In what direction did letter “e” move when you moved it to the right? to the left?
upward? downward?
6. In what direction did letter “e” move when you moved it downward?
7. What is the proper way of storing the microscope?