Section 3: Microscopes and magnification

3.1 Name 2 types of

microscopes
3.2 State 2 advantages and
disadvantages of a
light/optical microscope
3.3 State 2 advantages and
disadvantages of an
electron microscope
3.4 What is meant by resolution
or resolving power?

3.5 What is an order of

magnitude?
3.6 How do you calculate
magnification?
3.7 How do you rearrange the
equation to calculate the
actual size of an image?
3.8 What is 1260000nm as
standard form?
3.9 What is 0.0000001m as
standard form?
3.10 What is a stage
micrometre?
3.11 What is a graticule?

3.12 How do you rearrange the

equation to calculate the
image size?
Section 3: Microscopes and magnification
ANSWER KEY
3.1 Name 2 types of Light/optical microscope
microscopes Electron microscope
3.2 State 2 advantages and Advantages: Portable, easy to use, see colour,
disadvantages of a inexpensive, live specimens Disadvantages - 2D,
light/optical microscope low resolution, low magnification
3.3 State 2 advantages and Advantages: 3D images, high magnification, high
disadvantages of an resolution Disadvantages - Expensive, black and
electron microscope white images only, specimen must be dead
3.4 What is meant by resolution The fineness of detail that can be seen in an image.
or resolving power? The higher the resolution of an image, the more
detail it holds. The ability to distinguish between 2
points.
3.5 What is an order of A number to the base of 10, often used to make
magnitude? comparisons.
3.6 How do you calculate Magnification = Image size / Actual size
magnification?
3.7 How do you rearrange the Actual size = Image size / Magnification
equation to calculate the
actual size of an image?
3.8 What is 1260000nm as 1.26 x 10-3m
standard form?
3.9 What is 0.0000001m as 1 x 10-7m
standard form?
3.10 What is a stage A glass slide with a scale on it used to calibrate the
micrometre? eyepiece
3.11 What is a graticule? A glass or plastic disc fitted into the eyepiece of a
microscope used to estimate the size of a specimen
3.12 How do you rearrange the Image size = Magnification x Actual size
equation to calculate the
image size?