Discussion

a) Discussion Objectives

Objective 1: The parts and functions of the compound light and dissecting microscope.

1.1 Compound Light Microscope

Compound light microscope is a high magnification microscope that uses two sets of lenses
which are the ocular lens and objectives lens. The compound light microscopes typically provide
magnification in the range of 40x to 1000x. Compound microscopes are used to view small
samples that cannot be identified with the naked eye such as cell structure.

The first optical part of compound light microscope is the ocular lens. The ocular lens is attached
to the head of the microscope. The ocular lens is which the user looks through to see the
magnified sample. Ocular lens has a magnification ranging from 5x to 30x, but normally the
standard ocular lens has a magnifying power of 10x.

The second optical part of compound light microscope is the objective lens. The objective lens
that are placed close to the microscope stage are connected to the ocular lens through the
eyepiece tube. There are three objective lenses which is oil immersion objective (100x), high
power objective (45x) and low power objective (10x).

Next, the microscope arm supports the microscope head and attaches it to the base. When the
microscope is upright, the base offers support and stability. Apart from that, the base also
carries microscopic illuminators or the light source. The purpose of the illuminators is to provide
high intensity light so that light can travel through the condenser to the sample.

The stage of the microscope is flat and in rectangular shape. It is attached to the bottom end of
the arm. The stage clip is placed on either side of the stage to hold the slide in place. The sample
is set up on that stage to be studied and examined by the user. There is a hole right in the middle
of the stage to allow the light to pass through.

Coarse adjustment knob is the large knob that is used to move the stage upwards or downwards
to bring the sample into approximate or near focus. It is also a rapid control which allows for
quick focusing. After the sample has been brought into focus with the course adjustment knob,
fine adjustment knob which is the smaller knob is used to sharpen the focus quality of the
image.

Nose piece that is connected to the body tube’s lower end holds the objective lenses and
attached them to the microscope head. Nose piece is used to rotate those four objective lenses
to change and achieve the correct magnification power. An audible click will sound once the lens
is place on the correct position.

Light switch button is used to switch on and off the light source of the microscope.

Brightness adjustment is used to adjust light intensity which has a range from 1 to 5.

Diaphragm that located above the condenser and below the stage is used to controls the
amount of light reaching through the sample.
1.2 Dissecting Microscope
Dissecting microscope which is also known as stereomicroscope is used to view three-
dimensional objects and larger specimens, with a maximum magnification of 100x. Usually, this
type of microscope is used to study the external features on an object or to examine structures
not easily mounted onto flat slides.

Dissecting microscope contains two separate objective lens and eyepiece which creates two
separate optical paths for each eye. As a result, it creates a 3D image of the sample. The first
part of dissecting microscope is the eyepiece. The eyepiece is hold by the binocular head. The
eyepiece consists of ocular lenses which allows user to view and observe the image of the
sample.

It consists of two light adjustment knobs on both left and right side. The left side is used to
adjust the top lighting while the right side is used to adjust the bottom lighting.

Coarse adjustment knob is used to move objective lens to approximate or near focus. The fine
focus adjustment knob is used to sharpen and focus the image.

The zoom knob is used to zoom the parts of the sample.

The stage is where the specimen in placed and hold firmly with the help of the stage clip.

Diopter is used to control focusing difference between left and right eye.

Objective 2: State the steps in proper order for bringing the cell’s image into focus with the
compound light microscope.

1. Clean up the microscope by using tissue to remove dirt especially dirt on the lenses.
2. Connect the compound light microscope to a power source.
3. Carefully place the slide on the stage of microscope and clip it with the stage clip. Make
sure the specimen is positioned in the center, right under the lowest objective lens.
4. Switch on the light then adjust the light intensity.
5. Adjust coarse adjustment knob to level up the stage.
6. Adjust focus adjustment knob to focus the image.
7. Use 4x magnification as the first lens.
8. Adjust the image by using fine focus adjustment knob.
9. After the image is seen, increase the magnification to 10x magnification.
10. The image is focused by using fine focus adjustment knob.
11. After a clearer image is seen, increase the magnification to 10x magnification
12. The image is focused by using fine focus adjustment knob.
13. Magnification of lens is increased to 100x magnification.

Objective 3: Calculate the diameter of field and the total magnification of the cell’s image.

Microscope field of view is the maximum area visible when looking through the microscope
eyepiece, usually it is quoted as a diameter measurement. Calculating the diameter of field allows
user to determine the approximate size of a specimen under examination. Diameter of field can be
measured by using a transparent or metric ruler on the stage while viewing through the eyepieces
with different objectives lenses. To calculate the diameter of field, the field number should be
divided by the objective magnification

Field Number
Field of View =
Objective Magnification

The total magnification is calculated by multiplying of the ocular lens (eyepiece) by the magnification
of the objective lens.

Total magnification = (Magnification of the eyepiece X magnification of the objective lens)

References:
1. https://byjus.com/biology/study-of-the-parts-of-a-compound-microscope/
2. https://www.microscope.com/compound-microscope-parts
3. http://www2.hawaii.edu/~kgoya/microscopy_tutorial/glossary.htm