LAB.

EXPT1 1

Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation

Lucena City
Granted Autonomous Status
CHED CEB Res. 076-2009

LABORATORY ACTIVITY 1
MICROSCOPY

OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the experiment the students should be able to:
1. Understand the importance of the microscope in solving crimes
2. State the different parts of the microscope and its uses.
3. Manipulate the microscope

Microscope
 Instrument that produces enlarged images of small objects, allowing the observer an
exceedingly close view of minute structures at a scale convenient for examination and
analysis. 

Microscope Magnification
The magnifying power of a microscope is an expression of the number of times the object
being examined appears to be enlarged and is a dimensionless ratio. It is usually expressed in
the form 10× (for an image magnified 10-fold), sometimes wrongly spoken as “ten eks”—as
though the × were an algebraic symbol—rather than the correct form, “ten times.” The
resolution of a microscope is a measure of the smallest detail of the object that can be
observed. Resolution is expressed in linear units, usually micrometres (μm).

Parts of a Microscope
1. Eyepiece or Ocular lens:

An eyepiece is a magnifying lens attached to the microscope which helps in magnifying the sample
object. It is called an eyepiece as we need to place our eye near it in order to see the magnifying
image of the sample.

2.    Body Tube: A body tube is an integral part of the microscope as it holds the eye piece and
connects it to the objective.

3.    Arm: The arm is the part of microscope that connects to the base and helps carry the microscope
easily. One can hold the arm with on hand and put another hand under the base of the microscope
so that it can be carried easily.

4.    Base: The base is the bottom part of the microscope, usually made up of durable material as it
supports the microscope to stand and provides stability. The base is very important as stability is very

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important to gain accurate results. With an unstable base, the results may not be as accurate as we
require.

5.    Illuminator:An illuminator is a source of light usually situated at the bottom/ base of the
microscope. It is a low voltage halogen bulb of about 110 volts to provide steady light to the sample
in order to facilitate the experiment/study.

6.    Stage: A stage is an indispensable part of the microscope. It is a flat surface where the slide with
the specimen is placed. A mechanical stage is a stage used when working with higher magnifications.
It is moved by using knobs as even the slightest moment can affect the results.

7.    Stage Clip: Stage clips are used to hold the slides in place in the absence of a mechanical stage. It
is used in comparatively simpler experiments. But even in simpler experiments, the movement of
slides is crucial hence stage clips are used to provide stability to the slides.

8.    Revolving Nosepiece or Turret: A nosepiece is the part of the microscope which holds two or
more objectives simultaneously to provide various magnifications in order to view the same
specimen in various dimensions.

9.    Objective lens: Objective lens is the part of microscope responsible for magnifying the image of
specimen. Usually there are three objective lenses in a standard microscope of 10X, 40X and 100X.
Depending upon the aim of study and nature of the specimen, the most suitable objective lens can
be brought to use.

10.    Rack Stop: It is a part of the microscope responsible for adjusting and determining the distance
between the objective lens and the specimen. It is very important as it avoids the ramming of
objective lens into the slide, which can result in destroying the slide and specimen.

11.    Condenser Lens:The function of the condenser lens is to collect the light from the illuminator
and focus it on the specimen. A microscope with a condenser provides with a sharper and clearer
image than a microscope without a condenser.

12.    Diaphragm or Iris:The diaphragm is used to control the amount of light reaching the specimen.
In a student scope it is a rotating disk under the stage and above the condenser. There are various
holes in the diaphragm in order to facilitate the variants in the experiments carried on.

13.    Coarse adjustment knob:A coarse adjustment knob is a knob present on the arm of a
microscope. The main function of this knob is to move the specimen back or forth to adjust the slide
containing specimen in order to bring it to focus and show the best image possible. The coarse
adjustment should be carefully moved and adjusted to attain desired results.

14.    Fine Adjustment Knob:This knob is a sub part of the Coarse adjustment knob. It is used to bring
the specimen into sharp focus.

15.    Power Switch:A Power switch is an electrical switch present at the bottom of the microscope in
order to switch of the light source i.e., the illuminator. At times the researcher/user does not require
the light from illuminator. In such a case, the power switch can be used to turn off the illuminator.

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16.    Low Power Objective:Low Power objective is a short length objective, most widely used in the
microscopes to view slides. Usually the experiments carried, use low power objective until the study
of the specimen is very specific. Also due to the short length of the objective, it avoids ramming into
the slide and protecting it from breaking.

17.    High Power Objective: High power objective, also known as high-dry objective is used to study a
specimen in very fine and detailed manner. It is a bit longer in length than the low power objective
and needs to be handled with care.

18.    Specimen on the Glass slide:A glass slide is a thin and flat piece of glass used in the microscope.
The specimen is kept on the glass slide and put under the objective in order to study it. A typical glass
slide is of dimensions 75x 26mm and about 1 mm thick. The specimen on the glass slide is further
covered with a very thin and smaller sheet of glass called a cover slip so that the specimen doesn’t
spill on the glass slide.

19.    Aperture: Aperture is a small hole in the stage through which the light is transmitted and passed
on to the slide.

TYPES OF MICROCOPE
Simple microscope
 Contains only one magnifying lens and can magnify objects or images at 3 to 20x larger
than the actual size

Light microscope
 A microscope that uses visible light to observe specimen

Electron microscope
 It uses a beam of electron instead of light; free electron that travel in waves; and uses
electromagnetic lenses instead of glass lenses.

TYPES OF LIGHT MICROSCOPE

Compound light
 Uses visible light
Brightfield
 Resolving power of 0.2000 um; magnification of 1000x
Darkfield
 Uses a darkfield condenser, staining is not needed, and the specimen appears light
against a darkbackground. (silhoutte)
Phase contrast
 Permits detailed examination of internal structures, staining is not necessary and it
uses a special condenser containing an annular diaphragm.
Differential interference
 Similar to PCM, uses differences in refractive indexes and 2 beams of light instead of
one.
 Resolution is higher than PCM, and the specimen appears colored as the result of prism
effect and a 3 dimensional specimen can be seen.
Fluorescence Microscopy

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 Uses a special dye called as Fluorochromes, and when specimen is examined, they
appear luminiscent, bright against a dark background.

Confocal Microscopy
 Specimen is stained by Fluorochromes and uses a pinhole aperture that eliminates
blurring of objects.
 Resulting to a exceptionally clear two-dimensional images and when used in
conjuction with computers, it can produce three dimensional images.

TYPES OF ELECTRON MICROSCOPE

Transmission electron microscope
 Uses a beam of light
 Image produced is 2 dimensional
Scanning electron microscope
 Use to study surface features of a cells and viruses, nearly the same with TEM, only
this produces 3 dimensional image.
Scanning tunneling microscopy
 Uses a thin metal probe that scans the specimen revealing bumps and depressions and
no special preparation required.
Atomic force
 Uses a metal and diamond probe gently forced down along the surface of the specimen
 Produces 3 dimensional images

BASIC RULES FOR CARING FOR MICROSCOPES

 EVERYTHING on a microscope is unbelievably expensive, so be careful.

 Hold a microscope firmly by the stand, only. Never grab it by the eyepiece holder, for
example.
 Hold the plug (not the cable) when unplugging the illuminator.
 Since bulbs are expensive, and have a limited life, turn the illuminator off when not in use.
 If used constantly on full power the bulb will overheat and blow (or gently melt the inside of
the housing). This is not a good idea!
 Always make sure the stage and lenses are clean before putting the microscope away.
 NEVER use anything but good quality lens tissue on any optical surface, with appropriate lens
cleaner or distilled water; organic solvents may separate or damage the lens elements or
coatings.
 Cover the instrument with a dust jacket when not in use.
 Focus smoothly; don't try to speed through the focusing process or force anything.
 If it isn't working DON'T try to fix it unless you really know what you are doing. Make a note
of the symptoms and ask someone who knows.

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ACTIVITY NO.1
MICROSCOPY

Name _____________________________________________________ Score ______________

Course and Year _____________________________________________ Schedule ___________

Part I.

a. Direction: Draw and label the different parts of the microscope. Place all the labels on
the right side of the drawings.

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b. Explain briefly how to manipulate a microscope.

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PART II.

a. FINGER PRINTS ANALYSIS

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Compare finger print of your siblings from you and a friend’s, compare the patterns. It may
be an imprint and or a picture of your finger prints. (you may use stamp pad to make an
imprint).

2. In comparing you may use a magnifying glass. (magnifying glass can be bought in the
bookstore and or medical supplies)

3. Options: if you cannot produce the above, you can search google for pictures of finger prints,
you are going to need 3 different finger prints and assume that it is from you, sibling and
friend. Instead of copy paste, draw the finger prints.

RESULT:

YOUR FINGER PRINT SIBLINGS FRIEND

DIFFERENCES

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_____________________________________________________________________________
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SIMILARITIES
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ANALYSIS
1. Is microscope important in solving crimes? Why?
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2. State/ explain the use of the microscope in the following:

a. Blood
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b. DNA
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c. Smear
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d. Unidentified person
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3. Make further research on the different microscopes that can be used in the investigation of a
crime. Tabulate your answer by the following criterion.
a. name of the microscope
b. brief description
c. enumerate/list down examples of evidences that can be tested in this microscope.
d. Picture of the microscope.

CONCLUSION:

1. _____________________________________________________________________________
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2. _____________________________________________________________________________
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3. _____________________________________________________________________________
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