MICROSCOPE PARTS AND FUNCTIONS

 

The microscope is a tool used to magnify objects such as cells and make them easier to see.

 

Each part of the microscope has a function. Use page 828 in your text book to find the parts and functions of each part of the microscope.

 

Answer the Questions Below

 

  1. Print the names of each object in the boxes to the right (note: you can also attach a separate sheet of paper with a list of parts matching the numbers to the right if the spaces are too small for you)
  2. The eye piece usually has a magnification of ______X
  3. Which objective has a higher magnification, low power or high power?
  4. Which objective do you look in first?
  5. Which objective gives you a wider field of view? Low power or high power?
  6. What do you use to move the objective?
  7. The _____________ moves the body tube up and down in large increments to allow gross positioning and focusing of the low power objective lens
  8. The _____________ moves the body tube slightly to bring the image into sharp focus
  9. The _____________ supports the slide
  10.  The ____________________ secure the slide in position for viewing
  11. What controls the amount of light coming into and out of the microscope?
  12. The ________ supports the body tube
  13. The ________ supports the microscope
  14. How are you supposed to hold the microscope? (mention two ways)
  15. List the steps for using a microscope
  16. What do you do when you are finished using the microscope?
  17. List the steps for preparing a wet mount

 

Read the section below these questions called “More Microscope Information” and “So you can’t see your image” and “which way did it go?” to answer the following questions

 

  1. What is the total magnification of the microscope if the eye piece is 10x and the objective is 40x?
  2. List one thing you can do to troubleshoot your microscope if your image is not in focus or you can not see anything
  3. Choose two objects to view under the microscope and draw them under low power and under high power. Include observations of the objects. When drawing objects also draw the field of view (which is a circle) and underneath the circle write the total magnification. Have fun.

 

More Microscope Information

 

You will be using a compound microscope. When using a compound microscope you will be looking through two lenses. As you read in your biology text book the magnification of the eye piece of 10x. A typical magnification for the low power (also known as the scanning objective) is 10x. What do you think the total magnification of the image is when looking through the microscope? Is it 10x? 20x or 100x? If you choose 100x you were correct. Therefore, to find the total magnification you multiply the magnification of the eye piece times the magnification of the objective you are using. If you have an objective with a magnification of 15x and an eye piece with a magnification of 10x then the total magnification is 150x.

 

So You Can’t See Your Image

 

Next piece of useful information, if you find it difficult to get your slide in focus try the following: check to make sure the object is “clicked in”,  check to make sure the diaphragm is “clicked” in, check to make sure you have the right amount of light coming in by checking the diaphragm, check to make sure the slide underneath the objective, move the objective to low power and move the coarse adjustment to get it in focus and check to make sure the microscope is plugged in. If you have checked all of the above then ask for help from a lab partner or the teacher.

 

“Which way did it go?”

 

The image you see under the microscope will appear upside down and backwards. You will see an example of this when you view the letter “e” under the microscope. Therefore, when you move the image to the right you will see it move left and when you move the image to the left you will see it move to the right. When you move the image up you will see it move down.

 

 

Extra Credit

Did you ever want to get credit for playing “tic tac toe” during class, well now is your chance. Get a small piece of paper and draw a “tic tac toe” grid. Each person will need a different color of pen (it is easier to see this way).  Play the game by looking in the microscope. When you are done draw out the grid as you see it underneath the microscope and then draw it out how you see it on the paper as it is positioned on the slide. Explain how the two images are similar and how they are different and give a reason why. Have Fun !! J