Scribd
Upload
83 views

The Compound Light Microscope

The document discusses the parts and functions of the compound light microscope. It describes how magnification is calculated by multiplying the eyepiece and objective powers. It lists the main parts of the microscope like the arm, base, body tube, objectives, eyepiece, stage, and explains their functions. It provides instructions on how to properly focus the microscope by using the coarse adjustment for low power and fine adjustment for high power objectives.

Uploaded by

Isabela Martinez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
83 views

The Compound Light Microscope

The document discusses the parts and functions of the compound light microscope. It describes how magnification is calculated by multiplying the eyepiece and objective powers. It lists the main parts of the microscope like the arm, base, body tube, objectives, eyepiece, stage, and explains their functions. It provides instructions on how to properly focus the microscope by using the coarse adjustment for low power and fine adjustment for high power objectives.

Uploaded by

Isabela Martinez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

The Compound Light Microscope

The function of a microscope: to magnify or enlarge the image of tiny objects.


Magnification: enlargement of the image of an object (A magnification of 100x
means that the image you see through the microscope is 100 times bigger than the
actual object.) Total magnification is calculated by multiplying the power of the
eyepiece (ocular) lens by the power of the objective lens being used.
Total Magnification = Eyepiece x Objective
Resolution: the ability of a microscope to show two very close points separately.
Depth of Field is the thickness of an object that is all in focus at the same time
while viewing it under the microscope or through a camera lens.
Compound Microscope: An instrument that contains two lenses magnifying a
specimen at the same time, the eyepiece (ocular) and one of the objective lenses.
Light Microscope: A microscope that uses light as a source of energy for viewing.
(Some microscopes use electrons as an energy source.)
Microscope Carrying Position: You use two hands to carry a microscope. One
hand holds the base; the other holds the arm.
Field of View: The diameter of the circle of view you can see when looking down
the eyepiece of the microscope.

The Parts of the Microscope and Their Functions


1. The arm supports the upper parts of the microscope and is used to carry the
instrument.
2. The base supports the whole microscope.
3. The body tube holds the eyepiece on one end and the nosepiece with the
objective lenses on the other end. It also provides the pathway for the light to
travel from the source through the objective and eyepiece lenses.
4. The coarse adjustment knob is used to focus when using the low power
objective.
5. The fine adjustment knob is used to focus when using the high power
objective.
6. The low power objective lens, located on the nosepiece, provides the least
amount of magnification (usually about 4X). The low power objective is the
shorter of the three objective lenses. It is always the first lens you use to view a
specimen. Use the coarse adjustment knob with low power!
7. The high power objective lens, located on the nosepiece, provides the most
amount of magnification (usually about 40X). The high power objective is the
longer of the objective lenses. Use the fine adjustment knob with high power!
8. The light source (either a mirror or illuminator) provides light necessary for
viewing the specimen.
9. The stage is where the slide is placed.
10.The nosepiece holds the objective lenses.
11.The eyepiece (ocular) contains the first lens you look through (usually about
10x) when you use a compound microscope. It is located on the top of the body
tube.
12.The stage clips hold the slide in place on the stage.
13.The diaphragm regulates the amount of light that can enter the lenses.
14.The stage opening allows light to pass from the light source to the lenses.

How to Focus a Microscope


1. Before you start to adjust your microscope, make sure that you have a bright
white field of view.
2. Make sure the low power objective (the shortest one) is in position directly over
the slide. Set the diaphragm to its largest opening (where the most amount of
light will get through).
3. Place your slide on the stage and clip it with the stage clips.
4. Turn the coarse adjustment knob until the lens is at a position close to the stage.
5. While looking through the eyepiece, begin to slowly turn the coarse adjustment
knob. TURN SLOWLY AND WATCH CAREFULLY!
6. When the specimen is focussed under low power, move the slide so that what
you want to see is in the exact center of your field of view.
7. (You may be asked to draw what you see under low power and high power.)
8. Before switching to high power, make sure that what you want to view is in the
exact center of your field of view.
9. To view your specimen under high power, carefully rotate the nosepiece until
the high power objective in directly over the slide.
10.DO NOT TOUCH THE COARSE ADJUSTMENT KNOB AGAIN!
11.Once the high power objective is in place focus your specimen using the fine
adjustment knob ONLY!

You might also like