microscope

Rules of using a microscope

• Always carry with 2 hands
• Only use lens paper for cleaning
• Do not force knobs
• Always store covered
• Be careful of the cords
Parts of a microscope
 Parts of a microscope
• Eyepiece
 Parts of a microscope
• Body tube
 Parts of a microscope
• Nosepiece
 Parts of a microscope
• Objectives
– Low power (short)
– High power (long)
 Parts of a microscope
• Arm
 Parts of a microscope
• Stage
 Parts of a microscope
• Stage clips
 Parts of a microscope
• Diaphragm
 Parts of a microscope
• Coarse and fine
adjustment knobs
 Parts of a microscope
• Light source
 Parts of a microscope
• Base
 Magnification
• Multiply the eyepiece magnification (10X) by
the objective magnification (4X, 10X, 40X)
– Example: 4 x 10 = 40X total
 How to use a microscope
• Place the slide on the stage
• Use stage clips to secure slide
• Adjust nosepiece to lowest setting
– (Lowest = shortest objective)
• Look into eyepiece
• Use coarse focus knob
Slide # 9
How to Prepare a Slide

1. Place slide on a flat surface.

2. Place a drop of water on the slide. Add the specimen to the drop of
water (at times, you may want to have the specimen already on the
slide before adding the water).
3. Hold the coverslip by its sides and lay its bottom edge on the slide close
to the specimen. Holding the coverslip at a 45° angle helps.
4. Slowly lower the coverslip so that it spreads the water out. If you get air
bubbles (looking like little black doughnuts), gently press on the
coverslip to move them to the edge. If there are dry areas under the
coverslip, add a little more water at the edge of the coverslip. Too
much water can be dabbed off with a piece of paper towel
 History of the Microscope

• 1590 –first compound

microscope
 History of the Microscope

• 1655 – Robert Hooke used a

compound microscope to
observe pores in cork
–He called them “cells”
 Types of Microscopes
• 1. Compound Light Microscope
–1st type of microscope, most
widely used
–light passes through 2 lenses
–Can magnify up to 2000x
Ocular lens

Objective
lenses
 Types of Microscopes
• 2. Electron Microscope
–Used to observe VERY small
objects: viruses, DNA, parts of
cells
–Uses beams of electrons rather
than light
–Much more powerful
 Types of Microscopes

• Scanning Electron Microscope

(SEM)
–Can magnify up to 100,000x
Scanning Electron Microscopes

Scanning electron microscopes use electrons to probe the sample.

Note that there are no lenses or eyepieces on this SEM. Images are
created from measurements of how the electrons scatter off the
sample.

Image: Grant Institute of Earth Science, University of Edinburgh

 Types of Microscopes

• Transmission Electron
Microscope (TEM)
–Can magnify up to 250,000x