Microscope video notes

Light microscope / optic microscope is the most common microscope ( early microbiologist
ventures )

Light microscope operation

Uses ( light ) to visualize a specimen
Some can magnify an image up to 1200x

1. Light illuminates the specimen from below

2. Light passes through the *object lens* : magnifies the image 4x to 100x its original size.
3. Light passes through the tube and *ocular lens* : magnifies the image by 10x or 15x before it
finally enters your eye

Microscope components
● 1. Stage : specimen sits on
● 2. Stage clips : hold the specimen in place
Specimen is usually nestled between a slide and a cover slip
● 3. Diaphragm : attached to the stage & controls the contrast of the image by controlling the
amount of light from the
● 4. Light source : expose the specimen to light
● 5. Slide adjustment knobs : located on the sides of the stage & used to move the specimen
● 6. Objectives ( lenses ) : held by the nosepiece , can be rotated
Why? All the objective magnifications may be employed to view the specimen.
● 7. Nosepiece & 8. eyepiece ( ocular lens ) : connected by the 9. tube, further magnifies the
image, the part one looks through to view the specimen.
● 10. Focus knobs : 11. coarse for larger changes, 12. fine for smaller adjustments.

8.

- 9. Tube

-5. Slide adjustment

7. ou slide control knob

6.

I.

I.
w
3.
10. Focus Knobs

4. R
 How to use the light microscope?
1. Plug in the microscope & turn on the light source.
2. Secure the specimen on the stage using the stage clips.
3. Rotate the nosepiece to put the smallest objective lens over the specimen.
4. Use coarse focus knob to clear up the image.
5. Use the slide control knob to center the specimen in your field of view.
Moving the slide to the right = moving it to the left in the field of view
6. Use the fine adjustment knob to refine the image.
This may also involve adjusting the eyepiece to further focus the image of the specimen, eyes are
not identical, the focus setup may differs slightly between individuals.
7. Rotate nosepiece to the appropriate objective for your purposes.
8. You may need to use the fine focus knob to clear the image, avoid using the coarse focus.
9. Note what objective you’re on ( observations )

Total magnification = objective x 10 because of the eyepiece why?

I

When using the 100x objective, it is set up for oil immersion to improve the image resolution
I

&
How? Rotate the nosepiece until the specimen is between the 40x & 100x objectives then add a
drop of oil on top of the coverslip over specimen, finally rotate the nosepiece and use the 100x
objective.

Common uses of light microscope

To study : — bacteria — slices of tissue — liquid samples — some mitochondria

Inverted light microscope has the light source coming from the top & objectives are under the
I
stage, used to study tissue cultures such as:
— cells covered by liquid media
As cells settle to the bottom of the flask where the objective can pick up the image.

O
Why? Because standard light microscope would have trouble visualizing the cells through the liquid
medium

Pros of light microscope :

– Easy to use
cheaper
– Relatively inexpensive = common in undergraduate labs high schools

– You can visualize living specimen over the time with a low chance of damaging it
Cons of light microscope :
– limited in resolution and therefore magnification
– This makes it impossible to see structures in as much details as with other microscopes ( less
structure details )
Please wish meeee luck
Notes taken
by Marwa Saeed &