Light Microscope

STUDENT NOTES
Foundations in Biology
By. Yasmine Hadiastriani
Friday 29 November 2024 Page 8 & 9 in the OUP
Biology Textbook

2.1 Light Microscopy

Lesson Objectives:
Learners should be able to demonstrate and apply their knowledge and
understanding of:
a)The use of microscopy to observe and investigate different
types of cell and cell structure in a range of eukaryotic organisms

b)The preparation and examination of microscope slides for use

in light microscopy
c)The use of staining in light microscopy
d)The representation of cell structure as seen under the light
microscope using drawings and annotated diagrams of whole
cells or cells in sections of tissue
 Bell Task
Label the Diagrams
 Developing Microscopes
• The first microscopes were developed in
the 1600s.
• Microscopes allow us to see things that
are not visible to the naked eye, including
many small organisms and the basic
building blocks of living things: cells.
• For a biologist, a microscope is an
essential piece of equipment.
Development of cell theory and the microscope
TASK
•Summaries the major
developments of cell
theory in your notes

QUESTIONS
1.Outline the importance
of microscopes in the
study of living organisms
2.Suggest, with reasons,
why cell theory was not
fully developed before the
mid-19th century
 Key Components of a light
microscope
The light microscope uses a
beam of light to produce an
image. The light passes
through the specimen and is
focused through glass lenses,
which project a magnified
image.
1. Can you name the major
components of a light
microscope?
2. See if you can name those
denoted in the image.
3. What is the function of these
components when you’re
looking at a specimen?
Sample Preparation - 1
Sample Preparation - 2
Sample Preparation - 3
Sample Preparation - 4
 Slide Preparation
• Make a list of some of things you must
consider when producing slides or
microscopes
Some Ideas:
 Staining
• Many biological specimens such as cells
and tissue sections are relatively
colourless.
• This means that it is difficult to distinguish
between the different components they are
made up of when viewed under a
microscope.
• So staining is used to make components
of samples more visable
How has straining been used on this
sample to make the components
more clear?
 Staining
Understand why a stain is used when
preparing a sample for microscopy.

•Turn to pages 12 and 13 in the textbook

•Use the information to make notes on the
different methods of staining
•Summaries and be aware of the risk
assessment issues involved
The Information
 Extension
Answer the questions
 Scientific Drawing
• Biologists need to be able to make simple
yet accurate drawings of the specimens or
samples they observe under a
microscope.

• List all the important rules for producing

good scientific drawings
 Rules for Scientific Drawings
• Include a title of what the specimen is
• State the magnification of the drawing
• Use a sharp pencil on plain white paper
• Draw smooth continuous lines (no sketch lines)
• Do no shade
• Clearly label all structures
• Ensure proportions are correct
• Label lines should be draw with a ruler, should
not cross and have no heads
A Good Scientific Drawing
 A Bad Scientific Drawing

• List all the reasons

this is a bad
scientific drawing
 Practical
• Use the method sheet to complete all four
parts of the practical

• Draw everything you see under the

microscope in a scientific drawing

• Then answer the questions at the end of

the sheet
 Practical Review Questions
1.
a) In order to investigate onion cells, a stained temporary mount was made.
Suggest a good stain to use.
(1 mark)
b) Why did the onion cells need to be stained?
(1 mark)
c) What is the advantage of making a temporary mount of cells?
(1 mark)
2. A scientist wishes to study yeast cells using a light microscope. How
should the slide be prepared?
(3 marks)
3. Stains are used for a number of different purposes when preparing slides.
Give three examples of how they can be used.
(3 marks)
Review Questions
Magnification & Calibration
STUDENT NOTES
Foundations in Biology
By. Yasmine Hadiastriani
Friday 29 November 2024

2.2 Magnification & Calibration

Lesson Objectives: Bell Task
Learners should be able to
demonstrate and apply their
knowledge and understanding of:
•The use and manipulation
of the magnification
•The difference between
magnification and resolution
 Key Terms
• Magnification – how many types larger the
image is than the actual size of the
specimen

• Resolution – the ability to distinguish

between two close together objects
 Week 1

Magnification can be
calculated using this
equation

The triangle can be

used to arrange the
equation

© Pearson Education Ltd 2008

This document may have been altered from the original
 Light microscopes
Light (or optical) microscopes use lenses to project a magnified
image of an object onto the eye.

Magnification is a measure of how many times bigger the

image is than the object:

size of image
magnification =
actual size of the object

Light microscopes are limited to a magnification of 1500× by

their resolving power (resolution). This is a measure of their
ability to distinguish between two separate points. A light
microscope cannot resolve two points that are closer than
half a wavelength of visible light (250 nm).
 Week 1

Calculations of actual size from magnification given

Please note that magnification

sizes are subject to variation on
different screens © Pearson Education Ltd 2008
This document may have been altered from the original
 Week 1

An amoeba seen under a light microscope; (a) with a x10 objective

(b) with a x40 objective

Please note that magnification

sizes are subject to variation on
different screens © Pearson Education Ltd 2008
This document may have been altered from the original
 Week 1

Eyepiece graticule and stage micrometer at (a) x40 magnification and (b) x100
magnification

Please note that magnification

sizes are subject to variation on
different screens © Pearson Education Ltd 2008
This document may have been altered from the original
 Magnification
Photomicrographs often have magnification bars to allow
calculation of the actual size of specimens.

4.55μm
 Have a go at these:
• 1.45 x 104 =14500.0

• 0.37 x 107 = 3700000.0

• 86.41 x 10-3 0.08641

=
0.0265
• 2.65 x 10-2 =
Question 1 Paramecium caudatum

x600
Question 1 Paramecium caudatum

Measured length = 142mm

142 ÷ 600 = 0.237mm

0.237mm = 237μm

x600
 Question 2 chloroplasts

x9000
 Question 2 chloroplasts

Mean measured length of the four

largest chloroplasts = 39.25mm

39.25 ÷ 9000 = 0.0044mm

0.0044mm = 4.4μm
x9000
 Question 3 a bacterium

Measured length = 128mm

128 ÷ 0.002mm = magnification

Magnification = x64000
Question 4 seven week human embryo
Question 4 seven week human embryo

Measure the actual length of the

scale bar and divide by the
length it represents

Magnification = 25 ÷ 10 = x2.5
Question 5 head of a fruit fly
Question 5 head of a fruit fly

Measure the actual length of the

scale bar and divide by the
length it represents

Magnification = 12.5 ÷ 0.2 = x62.5

Question 6 pollen grain
Question 6 pollen grain

(a) Measure the actual length of

the scale bar and divide by
the length it represents
Magnification = 25 ÷ 0.02 = x1250

(b) 47mm

(c) 47 ÷ 1250 = 0.0376mm

0.0376mm = 37.6μm
Question 7 red blood cells in an arteriole
Question 7 red blood cells in an arteriole

Measured length of scale bar = 30mm

Magnification = 30 ÷ 0.01 = x3000

Diameter = 25mm [approx]

Actual diameter = 25 ÷ 3000 = 0.0083mm

0.0083mm = 8.3μm
Question 8 a mitochondrion
Question 8 a mitochondrion

Measured length of scale bar = 30mm

Magnification = 30 ÷ 0.002 = x15000

Measured width = 34mm

Actual width = 34 ÷ 15000 = 0.0023mm

0.0023mm = 2.3μm
Question 9 bacteriophage [a type of virus]
Question 9 bacteriophage [a type of virus]

Measured length of phage = 29mm

Magnification = 29 ÷ 0.0002 = 145000

Magnification = 1.45 x 105

Question 10 potato cells

starch grains
Question 10 potato cells

Mean diameter of the cells = 38mm [approx]

Measured length of scale bar = 24mm

Magnification = 24 ÷ 0.1 = x240

Diameter of the cells = 38 ÷ 240 = 0.158mm

0.158mm = 158μm
Calibrating Light Microscopes
Review Questions
Friday 29 November 2024

2.2 Magnification & Calibration

Lesson Objectives:
Learners should be able to demonstrate and apply their
knowledge and understanding of:
•The use and manipulation of the magnification
•The difference between magnification and resolution

HOMEWORK
Complete the microscopy booklet
questions
Due: Next Lesson