Allona Carter

TITLE
Use of A Microscope…
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this experiment is to develop the skills of using the microscope,
prepare wet mount slides, and to observe the specimen and draw it. My
hypothesis is that the letter “e” would not look the same in the lens as it does
without the lens. In this experiment a compound light microscope was used. A
compound light microscope uses multiple lenses, one near the object and the
other ones on the eyepiece, to magnify the object you observe. Hans Lippershey
and his son Zaccharias Hanssens invented this microscope in the late 1590s. The
purpose of using this microscope is to observe the object with a better
magnification. As stated in class a wet mount slide is used to observe smaller
objects.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Materials
Microscope, lens paper, glass slide, coverslip, water, scissors, newsprint, dropper
Methods
1. The microscope was taken to my table holding it by the frame and base and
then it was plugged up and turned on.
2. The letter “e” was cut out and placed in the center of a slide.
3. A drop of water was placed on top of the “e” using a dropper and the
coverslip was placed on top of the “e” at a 45° angle. The air bubbles were
removed by gently tapping the coverslip.
4. The slide was placed on the stage with the letter “e” facing me, with the 4x
lens.
5. While looking into the eyepiece adjust the coarse focus and then the fine
focus, so the “e” is clearly visible.
6. Draw the “e” how it looks in the microscope in circle (a).
7. Switch the lens to 10x, adjust the fine focus and draw in circle (b).
8. Switch the lens to 40x, adjust the fine focus and draw in circle (c).
 RESULTS

The pictures show what was seen in the microscope at low (a), medium (b),
and high (c) power.
1. While looking through the microscope, in what direction does the “e”
appear to move when you move the slide?
a) When you move the slide to the right the “e” moves to the left.
b) When you move the slide to the left the “e” moves to the right.
c) When you move the slide away from you the “e” moves towards you.
d) When you move the slide towards you the “e” moves away from you.
2. Determine the magnification of your microscope (show your work).
a) Low power eyepiece 10 x objective 4 = 40 magnification
b) Medium power eyepiece 10 x objective 10 = 100 magnification
c) High power eyepiece 10 x objective 40 = 400 magnification
 CONCLUSION
During this experiment, I used a compound light microscope to observe the letter
“e” on a wet mount slide that I made. I learned how to make my own wet mount
slide and what to do if air bubbles were present. My hypothesis was that the
letter “e” would not look the same in the lens as it does without the lens. It was
correct because when you look in the lens the “e” was upside down. My results
from this lab was properly using a compound light microscope and knowing the
parts and properly drawing what was seen in the objective lens as accurate as
possible.
REFERENCES
“How to us a Microscope” lab write up

“History of Microscopes.” Microscope.com,

https://www.microscope.com/education-center/microscopes-101/history-of-
microscopes#:~:text=Compound%20Microscopes,-But%20what%20of%20microscopes
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