TEM vs SEM

Both SEM (scanning electron microscope/microscopy) and TEM (transmission electron

microscope/microscopy) refer both to the instrument and the method used in electron
microscopy.

There are a variety of similarities between the two. Both are types of electron microscopes

and give the possibility of seeing, studying, and examining small, subatomic particles or

compositions of a sample. Both also use electrons (specifically, electron beams), the

negative charge of an atom. Also, both samples in use are required to be “stained” or

mixed with a particular element in order to produce images. Images produced from these
instruments are highly magnified and have a high resolution.

However, an SEM and TEM also share some differences. The method used in SEM is

based on scattered electrons while TEM is based on transmitted electrons. The scattered

electrons in SEM are classified as backscattered or secondary electrons. However, there

is no other classification of electrons in TEM.

The scattered electrons in SEM produced the image of the sample after the microscope

collects and counts the scattered electrons. In TEM, electrons are directly pointed toward

the sample. The electrons that pass through the sample are the parts that are illuminated

in the image.

The focus of analysis is also different. SEM focuses on the sample’s surface and its

composition. On the other hand, TEM seeks to see what is inside or beyond the surface.

SEM also shows the sample bit by bit while TEM shows the sample as a whole. SEM also

provides a three-dimensional image while TEM delivers a two-dimensional picture.

In terms of magnification and resolution, TEM has an advantage compared to SEM. TEM

has up to a 50 million magnification level while SEM only offers 2 million as a maximum
level of magnification. The resolution of TEM is 0.5 angstroms while SEM has 0.4
nanometers. However, SEM images have a better depth of field compared to TEM

produced images.

Another point of difference is the sample thickness, “staining,” and preparations. The

sample in TEM is cut thinner in contrast to a SEM sample. In addition, an SEM sample is

“stained” by an element that captures the scattered electrons.

In SEM, the sample is prepared on specialized aluminium stubs and placed on the bottom

of the chamber of the instrument. The image of the sample is projected onto the CRT or

television-like screen.

On the other hand, TEM requires the sample to be prepared in a TEM grid and placed in

the middle of the specialized chamber of the microscope. The image is produced by the

microscope via fluorescent screens.

Another feature of SEM is that the area where the sample is placed can be rotated in

different angles.

TEM was developed earlier than SEM. TEM was invented by Max Knoll and Ernst Ruska

in 1931. Meanwhile, SEM was created in 1942. It was developed at a later time due to the

complexity of the machine’s scanning process.

Summary:

1.Both SEM and TEM are two types of electron microscopes and are tools to view and

examine small samples. Both instruments use electrons or electron beams. The images

produced in both tools are highly magnified and offer high resolution.

2.How each microscope works is very different from another. SEM scans the surface of

the sample by releasing electrons and making the electrons bounce or scatter upon

impact. The machine collects the scattered electrons and produces an image. The image

is visualized on a television-like screen. On the other hand, TEM processes the sample by
directing an electron beam through the sample. The result is seen using a fluorescent

screen.
3.Images are also a point of difference between two tools. SEM images are three-

dimensional and are accurate representations while TEM pictures are two-dimensional

and might require a little bit of interpretation. In terms of resolution and magnification,

TEM gains more advantages compared to SEM.

Read more: Difference Between TEM and SEM | Difference

Between http://www.differencebetween.net/science/difference-between-tem-and-
sem/#ixzz5J2PgRQlH
 PARTS AND FUNCTION OF A MICROSCOPE

Eyepiece: The lens the viewer looks through to see the specimen. The eyepiece usually
contains a 10X or 15X power lens.

Diopter Adjustment: Useful as a means to change focus on one eyepiece so as to

correct for any difference in vision between your two eyes.

Body tube (Head): The body tube connects the eyepiece to the objective lenses.

Arm: The arm connects the body tube to the base of the microscope.

Coarse adjustment: Brings the specimen into general focus.

Fine adjustment: Fine tunes the focus and increases the detail of the specimen.

Nosepiece: A rotating turret that houses the objective lenses. The viewer spins the
nosepiece to select different objective lenses.

Objective lenses: One of the most important parts of a compound microscope, as

they are the lenses closest to the specimen.

A standard microscope has three, four, or five objective lenses that range in power
from 4X to 100X. When focusing the microscope, be careful that the objective lens
doesn’t touch the slide, as it could break the slide and destroy the specimen.

Specimen or slide: The specimen is the object being examined. Most specimens are
mounted on slides, flat rectangles of thin glass.

The specimen is placed on the glass and a cover slip is placed over the specimen. This
allows the slide to be easily inserted or removed from the microscope. It also allows the
specimen to be labeled, transported, and stored without damage.

Stage: The flat platform where the slide is placed.

Stage clips: Metal clips that hold the slide in place.

Stage height adjustment (Stage Control): These knobs move the stage left and
right or up and down.

Aperture: The hole in the middle of the stage that allows light from the illuminator to
reach the specimen.

On/off switch: This switch on the base of the microscope turns the illuminator off and
on.

Illumination: The light source for a microscope. Older microscopes used mirrors to
reflect light from an external source up through the bottom of the stage; however,
most microscopes now use a low-voltage bulb.
Iris diaphragm: Adjusts the amount of light that reaches the specimen.

Condenser: Gathers and focuses light from the illuminator onto the specimen being
viewed.

Base: The base supports the microscope and it’s where illuminator is located.

How Does a Microscope Work?

All of the parts of a microscope work together - The light from the illuminator passes
through the aperture, through the slide, and through the objective lens, where the
image of the specimen is magnified.

The then magnified image continues up through the body tube of the microscope to the
eyepiece, which further magnifies the image the viewer then sees.

Learning to use and adjust your compound microscope is the next important step.

It's also imperative to know and understand the best practices ofcleaning your
microscope.

The parts of a microscope work together in hospitals and in forensic labs, for
scientists and students, bacteriologists and biologists so that they may view bacteria,
plant and animal cells and tissues, and various microorganisms the world over.

Compound microscopes have furthered medical research, helped to solve crimes, and
they have repeatedly proven invaluable in unlocking the secrets of the microscopic
world.
 Source: https://www.microscopemaster.com/parts-of-a-compound-microscope.html

Microscope Parts and Functions

A microscope is an instrument widely to magnify and resolve the image of an object that is otherwise
invisible to naked eye. For resolving the details of objects, which otherwise cannot be achieved by
naked eye, a microscope is used.

Introduction to microscope parts and functions

Depending upon the organism to be studied and their characteristics, microscopes are classified as
light or optical microscope, electron microscope and other types like scanning-tunneling
microscopes.
Parts of a Microscope and their Functions

The following are the parts of microscope:-

Eyepiece or ocular lens: Eyepiece is the lens, present at the top and is used to see the objects
under study. Eyepiece lens contains a magnification of 10X or 15X.

Tube: Tube or the body tube, connects the eyepiece to the objective lenses.

Resolving nosepiece: It is also known as the Turret. Resolving nosepiece has holders for the
different objective lenses. It allows the rotation of the lenses while viewing.

Objective lenses: Generally, three or four objective lenses are found on a microscope, with ranges
of 10X, 40X, 100X powers. Lenses are colour coded, the shortest lens is of the lowest power, and
the longest lens is high power lenses.

Diaphragm: Diaphragm helps in controlling the amount of light that is passing through the opening
of the stage. It is helpful in the adjustment of the control of light that enters.

Coarse adjustment knob: Used for focus on scanning. Usually the low power lens is used enabling
the movement of the tube.

Fine adjustment knob: Used for focus on oil. Moves the body tube for focussing the high power
lens.
Arm: It supports the tube of the microscope and connects to the base of the microscope.

Stage: The platform that is flat used for placing the slides under observation.

Stage clip: Stage clips hold the slides in proper place.

Condensor: The main function of condenser lens is focussing the light on the specimen under
observation. When very high powers of 400X are used, condenser lenses are very important.
Presence of condenser lens gives a sharper image as compared to the microscope with no
condenser lens.

Base: Provides basal support for the microscope.

Power switch: The main power switch that turns the illumination on or off.

Conclusion to Microscope Parts and Functions

A microscope is commonly used in a microbiological laboratory and is uses for the study of
organisms. The various parts of a microscope with their associated function are mentioned above.

Sources: https://www.tutorvista.com/biology/microscope-parts-and-functions
Difference Between Compound
& Dissecting Microscopes
By Stacy Taylor; Updated March 10, 2018

Dissecting and compound light microscopes are both optical microscopes that use
visible light to create an image. Both types of microscope magnify an object by focusing
light through prisms and lenses, directing it toward a specimen, but differences between
these microscopes are significant. Most importantly, dissecting microscopes are for
viewing the surface features of a specimen, whereas compound microscopes are
designed to look through a specimen.
How a Microscope Works
Both dissecting and compound light microscopes work by capturing and redirecting light
reflected and refracted from a specimen. Compound microscopes also capture light that
is transmitted through a specimen. Light is captured by bi-convex lenses above the
specimen; these are called objective lenses. Compound microscopes have several
objective lenses of varying strengths, magnifying from 40 to 1,000 times. The point at
which the light is redirected -- or converged -- is called the focal point. The image at the
focal point will appear magnified to the observer. The distance between the focal point
and the first lens is called the working distance. Microscopes with a smaller working
distance have greater magnifying power than those with a longer one.

Dissecting Microscopes
it has a long working distance, between 25 and 150 mm, it has a lower
magnification ability. This gives the user the option to manipulate the specimen, even
performing small dissections under the microscope. Live specimens can also be
observed. A typical student stereoscope can magnify two to 70 times through its one
objective lens. With a stereoscope, light can be directed at the specimen from above,
creating a three dimensional image.

Compound Microscopes
Compound light microscopes are commonly used to view items that are too small
to see with the naked eye. They have several strengths of objective lenses and rely on
light shining from beneath the specimen. This requires that a specimen be very thin and
at least partly translucent. Most specimens are stained, sectioned and placed on a glass
slide for viewing. A compound microscope can magnify up to 1,000 times and provide the
ability to see much more detail. The working distance varies from 0.14 to 4 mm.

Differences in Application
A compound microscope is used to observe ultra-thin pieces of larger objects.
Examples could be the stem of a plant or a cross section of a human blood vessel. In
both cases, the specimen is not living. The piece is placed on a slide and stained with
dyes to highlight features. A stereoscope can be used for items that light cannot shine
 through. The actual colors of the specimen will be observed, and the specimen can be
manipulated by the observer while being viewed. The intricacy of butterfly wings, the
detail of a scorpion claw and the weave in a fabric are a few examples of items that
could be viewed. Stereoscopes also might be used to observe some living organisms
such as those in pond water.
Source: https://sciencing.com/difference-between-compound-dissecting-microscopes-5576645.html

Difference between Compound and Dissecting

Microscope
Updated on February 20, 2018

Microscopes are important tools in fields such as biology. They are used to magnify objects that are
too small to be viewed by our eyes. The use of a microscope is a science referred to as microscopy.
It has been around for many years now and has gone through innovations to create microscopes that
meet the specific needs of various users. Two of the most commonly used microscopes are the
compound and dissecting microscopes. The following is a discussion of the differences between these
two microscopes.

Contents [hide]

 1 Definitions
 2 Comparison Chart
 3 Compound Microscope vs Dissecting Microscope
Definitions

A compound microscope

A Compound Microscope uses several objective lenses with different strengths to view specimens.
It uses a light that shines from under the specimen, thus requiring the specimen to be thin enough for
light to pass through it. Specimen preparation involves staining, to make it easy to view distinct
sections of the specimen. It has a magnification of 400X to about 1,000X and therefore shows detailed
features of specimens. It has a shorter working distance of up to 4mm.
 A dissecting microscope

A Dissecting Microscope (also stereo microscope) on the other hand, has a longer working
distance of up to 150mm and a lower magnification. A beam of light is projected from above the
specimen. It is commonly used to view larger specimens and even perform dissections of small
specimens such as insects.
Comparison Chart
Compound Microscope Dissecting Microscope

Multiple objective lenses, one eyepiece Single objective lens, two eyepiece lenses

High magnification up to 1000X Low magnification of up to 70x

Small working space for viewing small and thin specimens Large working space to view large specimens

Light source is below the specimen Light source is above the specimen
 Compound Microscope vs Dissecting Microscope
What is the difference between compound and dissecting microscopes? These two categories of
microscopes differ in terms of their magnification, their use, working space, as well as the type and
number of lenses that each of them uses.

 Common compound microscopes have a magnification of 400X, but there are compound microscopes
that have as high as 1000X of magnification. Dissecting microscopes can only magnify an object up
to 70X at the most.
 Each of these microscopes is suited to a specific use, hence their distinctive design. A compound
microscope is mainly used to view small and thin objects such as cells. They therefore have a range
of objective lenses to choose from for the best magnification level, and focus their light from beneath
the specimen placed on a slide within a small working space that fits typical small specimens. The
light passes through the specimen revealing detailed internal sections of the specimen.
 A dissecting microscope, on the other hand, has a large working space used to view large specimens
such as pollen grains. They have a single objective lens with a designated magnification. They use a
beam of light from above the object to enable easy surface observations. The larger working space
allows the user to not only view larger specimens, which usually have a significant degree of depth,
but also manipulate them while under view. They are also used for small dissections, hence their
name.
 In addition to the multiple objective lenses, a compound microscope is usually made with one eyepiece
for viewing specimen images whereas dissecting microscopes commonly come with one objective
lens accompanied with two eyepiece lenses for better viewing of the specimen while working on it.

Sources: https://theydiffer.com/difference-between-compound-and-dissecting-microscope/
10 Tips for Microscope Care
Proper care and maintenance of your microscope can extend its life by many years.
Tip 1: Handle with care
Most microscope problems occur as a result of improper handling. When carrying your microscope, hold it by the
base and the metal support arm. Do not pick it up by the stage, as this can cause misalignment. When transporting it,
use a microscope bag.
Tip 2: Keep lenses clear of slides
When using your microscope and adjusting the focus you will need to lower the objective lens down as far as it will
go. However, you should never allow the lens to touch the slide you are looking at. Dirty lenses can be difficult to
clean.
Tip3: Clean after using immersion oil
If using immersion oil, always ensure the objectives are cleaned immediately after use. Objective, eyepieces and
condenser may be removed for cleaning. Use only lens paper and lens cleaner. Do not use solvents.
Tip 4: Cover when not in use
All microscopes are sold with dust covers. Always keep your microscope covered when not in use even if the
microscope is stored in a cabinet. Eye tubes also need to be kept free of dust so do not store a microscope without
the eyepieces. If the microscope eyepieces must be removed, cover the tubes with caps or a plastic bag with a
rubber band around the eye tube.
Tip 5: Look after the bulb
After using the microscope, turn off the illuminator and wait for it to cool for several minutes before putting it away. By
allowing the bulb to cool you will extend its life. When turning the microscope on and off, use the switch not the power
point. Do not switch the microscope on while using full light intensity. Never touch the bulb with your fingers as the
body oils can burn into the bulb and reduce its life. Use a tissue. Keep a store of replacement bulbs and always use
the correct bulb.
Tip 6: Store in a clean, dry place
Make sure you do not store your microscope in an area that has corrosive chemical fumes that can destroy lenses or
metal parts or beside solutions that may leak. Salt air and pervasive damp can also cause damage over time. Make
sure your cabinet is ventilated.
Tip 7: Only use special lens paper or wipes for cleaning the lenses
Microscope lenses can easily be scratched and should be treated with great care. Use an aspirator to remove dust.
Sticky residue can be removed with lens paper moistened with distilled water or lens cleaning solution and rubbed
gently using a circular motion. Never use sharp instruments or anything abrasive on the microscope lenses.
Tip 8: Keep your User's Manual and wrenches in a safe place
Each microscope should come with a user's manual and specialist wrenches as required. Always consult the User's
Manual before making any adjustments to your microscope and use the wrenches provided. Never over-tighten or
use force when performing any maintenance on your microscope, or use inappropriate tools. This can damage the
parts.
Tip 9: Perform an annual maintenance check
On an annual basis moving parts on the microscope should be cleaned and lubricated. Clean grease and dirt from
sliding surfaces using a clean cloth. Apply a very thin layer of lithium-based grease to the sliding surfaces. Do not
grease the teeth of the rack and pinion gears. Inspect the power cords and plugs for safety and stock up on a supply
of replacement bulbs.
Tip 10: Have your microscope serviced professionally
A rule of thumb for frequency of servicing is every 200 hours of use or every 3 years, whichever comes first.
Resolution

The resolution of an optical microscope is defined as the shortest distance

between two points on a specimen that can still be distinguished by the
observer or camera system as separate entities. An example of this important
concept is presented in the figure below (Figure 1), where point sources of
light from a specimen appear as Airy diffraction patterns at the microscope
intermediate image plane.
Source: https://www.microscopyu.com/microscopy-basics/resolution

Definition of Magnification in
Microscopy
Microscope magnification is how large the object will appear compared to its actual size.
Technically, magnification compares the actual angular size of an object to the actual angular
size of the object if it was viewed at a distance of 25 centimeters.

Source: https://sciencing.com/definition-magnification-microscopy-5639922.html