▪ Care

▪ Parts
▪ Focusing
Light Microscope - uses compound (2) lenses to magnify
objects. The lenses bend or refract light to make the
object beneath them appear closer.
 Eyepiece
Body Tube

Revolving Nosepiece
Arm
Objective Lens

Stage
Stage Clips
Coarse Focus
Diaphragm
Fine Focus
Light

Base
Magnification

Your microscope has 4 magnifications (objective lenses):

o Scanning
o Low
o High
o Oil Immersion
Each objective has its magnification labeled. In addition to this, the
_______
Ocular ______
Lens (eyepiece) has a magnification of 10 __X.
multiply the ocular x objective.
To calculate total magnification, ________
General Procedures

• Make sure all backpacks and materials are

out of the aisles and off the tops of desks.

• Store with cord wrapped around microscope

and the scanning objective clicked into
place.

• Carry by the base and arm with both hands.

Focusing Specimens

1. Always start with the Scanning Objective.

2. Place your specimen in the center of your field of view.
3. Use the Coarse Knob to focus.
4. Next, use the Fine knob until clear.
5. Once you've focused on Scanning, switch to Low Power.
6. Repeat steps 3-4.
7. Now, switch to High Power.
8. At this point, ONLY use the ____
Fine ___________
Adjustment _____
Knob to
focus specimens.
Recap
1. Scanning --> use coarse and fine knob DO NOT SKIP
2. Low power --> use coarse and fine knob STEPS!!!!
3. High power --> use fine knob only

What will happen if I use the course knob under high power?
The slide or lens could crack
Field of View
view through a
 Field of View: the area a person can _____
microscope.
circle
 It is represented by a _______.
 RELATIONSHIP: As magnification __________,
increases field
decreases
of view __________.
 As you switch from scanning (40X) to high power
(100X), the area you see through the microscope gets
smaller.
 We can see better detail with higher powers of
magnification, but we cannot see as much of the image.
 The lens inverts the image of the object inside the
Inverted means that the image appears
microscope. _________
upside down and backward compared with the actual
object.

• This means that the slide must be moved in the

opposite direction that you want the image to move.
• Ex. If you move the slide to the right on stage, as
you look through the microscope the slide appears
to move ____.
left
 Now, you Try
1. Go try to get the e in focus on the
scanning objective. Raise your hand
for approval once you do.
2. Use the stage knobs to move around
to try and trace the e while on
scanning objective and get used to
that motion.
3. Once approved, transition to low
power, and raise your hand again for
approval once you have that in focus.
4. Move on to high power after you get
approval.
5. Once in focus, raise your hand for
approval. You are now certified.
Switch it back to scanning, and if
time, go and get another slide for fun.
Reminder: Tips for using Knobs
1. Always start with the Scanning
Objective.
2. Place your specimen in the center of
your field of view.
3. Use the Coarse Knob to focus.
4. Next, use the Fine knob until clear.
5. Once you've focused on Scanning,
switch to Low Power.
6. Repeat steps 3-4.
7. Now, switch to High Power.
Cleanup

1. Store microscopes with the scanning objective in place.

2. Wrap cords and cover microscopes.

*Double check to make sure you didn't leave a slide

3. Place microscopes in their designated location (probably a cabinet)

Troubleshooting
Occasionally you may have trouble with working your microscope. Here are some
common problems and solutions.

1. Image is too dark!

Adjust the diaphragm, make sure your light is on.

2. There's a spot in my viewing field, even when I move the slide the spot stays in
the same place!
Your lens is dirty. Use lens paper, and only lens paper to carefully clean the
objective and ocular lens. The ocular lens can be removed to clean the
inside. The spot is probably a spec of dust.

3. I can't see anything under high power!

Remember the steps, if you can't focus under scanning and then low power, you
won't be able to focus anything under high power. Start at scanning and walk
through the steps again.

4. Only half of my viewing field is lit, it looks like there's a half-moon in there!
You probably don't have your objective fully clicked into place..
Practice Labeling the Parts
Quiz Over the Microscope
1. When focusing a specimen, you should always start with the
___________________ objective.

2. When using the high power objective, only the

________ ___________ knob should be used.

3. The type of microscope used in most science classes is the

_________________ microscope

4. What part of the microscope can adjust the amount of light

that hits the slide? ______________________________
5. You should carry the microscope by the ________ and the
__________.

6. The objectives are attached to what part of the microscope

(it can be rotated to click the lenses into place):
_______________ ________________

7. You should always store your microscope with

the ________________ objective in place.

8. A microscope has an ocular objective of 10x and a high

power objective of 50x. What is this microscope's total
magnification? ____________