Magnification vs.

Resolution………
Magnification Resolution

The amount that an image of something is scaled
up when viewed through a microscope.
Microscopes produce a linear magnification,
which means that if a specimen is seen magnified
x100 it appears 100 times wider and 100 times
longer than it really is.
Low magnification High magnification
The ability of an optical instrument to see or produce an
image that shows fine detail clearly.
The shortest distance between two points on a
specimen that can still be distinguished by the observer
or camera system as separate entities.

As you increase the magnification, you see

less but in more detail.
Microscopes (Maths Skills)
Calculations using microscopes

Microscopes magnification= eyepiece lens x objective lens

Length of magnified object= Actual length of object x the magnification

(Image) (Actual) (magnification)
Draw the triangle (with a pencil and
ruler.
Self Assessment Image Complete the following equations.

of equations Actual =

Actual
Magnification Magnification =
 Magnification calculation- Conversion of units

Key calculations normally considered using microscopes:

Converting answers into standard form

You count the number of places the decimal point moves and this is represented by a power of 10.
It is the first whole number that is not zero that is counted.
This is a positive power of 10 if the decimal moves to the left
This is a negative power of 10 if the decimal moves to the right

Examples:
A mitochondrion is 0.0025mm long write this in standard form ……2.5 x10 -3
A measurement of 177500 write this in standard form ……1.775 x105
 Your turn– complete practice questions
Complete the practice questions on
standard form

Complete practice questions on microscopy

Success criteria 3: Compare different types of microscopes

Optical microscopes (light)

• Played a key role in our
understanding of cell structure.
• First sort to be used in schools,
colleges, hospitals because they
are relatively cheap, easy to use,
portable and able to be used in
the field as well as the lab. Able
to be used to study whole living
organisms.
• Rely on lenses to focus a beam
of light.
• Use visible light
• Wavelength of visible light ranges
from 400 to 700nm so structures
closer together than 200nm will
appear as one object.
• Ribosomes are very small non-
membrane bound cells organelles of
about 20nm diameter, so cannot be
examined using a light microscope.

• Lower resolution than electron

microscopes- maximum
resolution of 0.2µm, so usually
used to look at whole cells or
tissues.

• Useful maximum magnification is

approx. x1500
Success criteria 3: Compare different types of microscopes

Laser scanning microscopes (confocal)

• Use laser light to scan an
object point by point and • Images are high resolution and
assemble, by computer, the show high contrast.
pixel information into one
image, displayed on a • Have depth selectivity and can
computer screen. focus on structures at different
depths within a specimen. Can
• Specimens are usually tagged observe whole living specimens
with a fluorescent dye. The and within cells.
laser causes the dye to
fluoresce, light is then focused • Used in medical profession, and
through a pinhole to a many branches of biological
detector, the detector is research.
hooked up to a computer
which generates a 3D image.

• Pinhole means any out-of-

focus light is blocked, so
microscope produces a much
Success criteria 3: Compare different types of microscopes
Electron microscopes- TEM vs SEM
TEM- transmission electron
microscope
• Use electromagnets to focus
beams of electrons, transmitted
through the specimen. Denser
parts of the specimen absorb
more electrons, making them
appear darker on the image.
• Specimen has to be chemically
fixed by being dehydrated and
stained.
• Beam of electrons passes
through the specimen, stained
with metal salts.
• Electrons form a 2D black and
white image.
• Image called an electron
micrograph.
• Currently magnifies up to 2
million times although working
to produce one that magnifies
up to 50 million.
SEM- scanning electron
microscope
• Scan a beam of electrons
across the specimen.
• This knocks electrons from
the specimen, which are
gathered in a cathode ray
tube to form an image.
Image produced shows the
surface of the specimen
and can be 3D.
• Give lower resolution
images than TEMs.
• Specimens for use have to
be dead, as they are
Electron microscopes
Use electrons instead of light to form an viewed while in a vacuum.
image. Have higher resolution than light • Metallic salt stains used for
microscope so give more detailed images. staining may be potentially
Fast-travelling electrons have a
hazardous to the user.
wavelength about 125000 times smaller
than that of the central part of the visible • Developed during 1960s.
light spectrum.
Success criteria 3: Compare different types of microscopes

Microscopes- magnification and resolution

Light microscope TEM SEM

Maximum 0.2µm 0.0002µm 0.002µm

resolution
Maximum x1500 Can be more than Usually less than
magnification x1 000 000 x500 000
Success criteria 4: Apply your understanding of microscopes
Practice Questions
1. If you were to examine a slide of a protoctist, using a x40 objective lens and a x15 eyepiece lens, what
would the total magnification be?

2. Suggest the most useful type of microscope to observe each of the following:
a) Living water fleas in pond water during a biology field trip
b) Cells taken from a cervical smear to be examined for abnormalities that may indicate cancer
c) Virus particles
d) The inner structure of a mitochondrion
e) The ribosomes in a liver cell

3.An insect is 0.5mm long. In a book, a picture of the insect is 8 cm long. Calculate magnification of the image.

4. The table shows the dimensions of some different organelles found in animal cells.
f) Name those organelles in the table that would be visible using a good quality light microscope. Explain
your answer.
g) Which organelles would be visible using an SEM? Explain your answer.

Organelle Diameter/ µm
Range of objects seen with or without Lysosome 0.1
microscopes. The scale is logarithmic. Mitochondrion 2
Nucleus 5
Ribosome 0.02
Vesicle 0.05