LAB 1

HOW TO USE A MICROSCOPE

The Big Idea: Explore how a microscope works and learn how to prepare a wet slide and a
stained slide.

INTRODUCTION

Background

A microscope is a very important tool in Biology. In this lab, you will learn how to operate a
compound light microscope and prepare wet and stained mount slides. Read the following
vocabulary words that are important when using a microscope.
inverted – placed upside down
reverse – placed in the opposite direction
ocular eyepiece – the top of the microscope through which you look to see an object
compound microscope – a microscope that uses two lenses to bring an object into focus;
has one eyepiece lens and one objective lens
field of view (FOV) – the diameter of a circle of light as seen when viewed through a
microscope; decreases as the microscope’s power increases
magnification – the power a microscope has to make an object larger (If total magnification is
50, an object will appear 50 times its original size.)

To calculate magnification, multiply the eyepiece magnification by the objective lens’

magnification. So, if the eyepiece magnification is 5 and the objective lens magnification is 50,
the total magnification is 250.

Consider the following example:

eyepiece magnification objective magnification total magnification

5 (×) 50 = 250×

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You will need to study and learn the parts of a microscope for this lab.
eyepiece lens

Compound Microscope

coarse
adjustment

fine
adjustment
nosepiece

objective lens

stage
clip for holding slide
slide in place

diaphragm
stage height lever
adjustment condenser
mirror/light source

Problem Question
This is a descriptive investigation. In a descriptive investigation, you are trying to answer a
question. However, there are not any hypotheses or variables. Read through the background and
procedures, and come up with a problem question.
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Materials
• compound light • 3 cover slips • light source, if needed
microscope • gloves • 2 toothpicks
• 3 microscope slides • page from a newspaper • methylene blue
• pair of scissors or magazine

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Safety Precautions

• Be careful with microscopes and microscope slides.

• Use scissors safely.
• Use caution with the toothpicks.
• Wear gloves when handling methylene blue.

PROCEDURES
Part 1: How to Handle a Microscope

1 – Use two hands to carry a microscope. Hold the

microscope’s arm with one hand and put your other
hand under its base. Properly carry one microscope to
where you will be working.

2 – Get a pair of scissors, a piece of newspaper, a slide,

and a cover slip or clear tape.

3 – Take off the dust cover. Plug in the microscope. Don’t

power on the microscope until your teacher tells
you to.

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Look at the microscope and label each part listed on the following chart.

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6

8
4 9

10

5 11
12

1) ________________________ 7) ________________________

2) ________________________ 8) ________________________

3) ________________________ 9) ________________________

4) ________________________ 10) ________________________

5) ________________________ 11) ________________________

6) ________________________ 12) ________________________

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Part 2: Prepare a dry mount slide.
1 – Use the scissors to cut one letter “e” from a newspaper
or magazine.

2 – Position the “e” on the glass slide in the direction it

would typically be read.

3 – Cover the letter with a clean cover slip.

4 – Power on the microscope. Put the slide on the

microscope’s stage. Put the “e” in a standard reading
position (as illustrated in step 3). Use the microscope’s
clips to secure the slide.

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 5 – Set the microscope on its lowest powered objective.
6 – Set the microscope’s diaphragm to its smallest diameter.
7 – Move the coarse adjustment to focus the microscope. The body tube will descend until
the “e” is clearly seen.
8 – Center the slide by moving it slowly. Put the pointer as close as possible to the center in
the middle of the “e.”
9 – Draw what you see in the first circle in Table 1.
10 – Compare and contrast what you see through the eyepiece and what you can see on the
stage with just your eye. Write your observations in Table 1.
11 – Look into the ocular eyepiece. Put the slide on the top right side of the microscope’s
stage. Which way does the “e” move? Write your observations in Table 2.
12 – Next, put the slide on the lower left side of the microscope’s stage. Which way does the
“e” move now? Write your observations in Table 2.
13 – Using the pointer as your guide, center the slide again. Then, change the microscope to
its higher power. Now the “e” will not be in focus. Use the focus knob to correct this. Next,
draw a new picture in Table 3 of the letter “e” (or the part you can see) on high power.
14 – Find the diaphragm under the microscope’s stage. Adjust it to the largest opening. Draw a
picture of what the “e” looks like now in Table 3.

Part 3: Prepare a wet mount slide.

1 – Use the toothpick to scrape plaque off your teeth. Wipe the plaque onto a clean slide and
spread it thin with the toothpick.
2 – With a dropper, place one drop of water over the plaque.

3 – Cover the plaque with a clean cover slip.

4 – Follow steps 4–14, only with the wet mount slide instead of the dry mount slide. Draw a
picture in Table 4 of the plaque under the highest magnification

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Part 4: Prepare a stained slide.
1 – Use the toothpick to scrape plaque off your teeth. Wipe the plaque onto a clean slide and
spread it thin with the toothpick.
2 – With a clean dropper, place one drop of methylene blue over the plaque.

3 – Cover the plaque with a clean cover slip.

4 – Follow steps 4–14, only with the stained mount slide instead of the dry mount slide. Draw a
picture in Table 4 of the plaque under the highest magnification.
5 – Set the microscope on its lowest powered objective.
6 – Set the microscope’s diaphragm to its smallest diameter.
7 – Move the coarse adjustment to focus the microscope. The body tube will descend until the
“e” is clearly seen.
8 – Center the slide by moving it slowly. Put the pointer as close as possible to the center in
the middle of the “e.”

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 DATA

TABLE 1
Drawing (Step 9) Compare and Contrast (Step 10)

TABLE 2
Step Number Observation

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12

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 TABLE 3
Drawing (Step 13) Drawing (Step 14)

TABLE 4
Drawing (Wet Mount) Drawing (Stained Mount)

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 ANALYZE DATA

13) What happened to the view of the “e” in the microscope when you moved the slide away
from you?______________________________________________________________________

14) What happened when you moved the slide to the right? __________________________________
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15) How does the ink appear under the microscope as compared to an unmagnified view?
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16) Was it easier to view the plaque with a wet mount or a stained mount? ____________________
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Conclusion: State what you were trying to discover, any errors that might have affected
your data, and any further tests that can be done. Also, state any scientific concepts learned/
practiced in the investigation. Extra space is provided to draw any conclusions/findings
graphically.
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