1.4 Microscopy - Light & Electron Microscopes

Question 1

Advantages of light microscopes

Answer 1

• small
  -easy to use
• cheap

Question 2

Disadvantages of light microscopes

Answer 2

• rely on light
• resolution is limited to 0.2 micrometres

Question 3

What is the wavelength of light

Answer 3

0.2 micrometres

Question 4

In a light microscope any image under a resolution of 0.2 micrometers will appear ______

Answer 4

Blurry

Question 5

What is a light microscope not good enough to find in cells

Answer 5

Sub-cellular structures like mitochondria

Question 6

What are some disadvantages of electron microscopes

Answer 6

• very large
• very expensive
• difficult to use (often used by scientists in labs)

Question 7

Name some advantages of electron microscopes

Answer 7

• uses electrons instead of light
• maximum resolution of 0.1 nanometres

Question 8

What is the wavelength of an electron

Answer 8

0.1 nanometre

Question 9

Why is it better to have a smaller resolution

Answer 9

It allows us to see tinier details

Question 10

How much better is an electron microscope than a light microscope

Answer 10

Light: 0.2 micrometers
Electron: 0.1 nanometre
1 micrometre = 1000 nanometres

x2000 times better

Question 11

Which microscope allows us to see sub-cellular structures

Answer 11

Electron microscopes

Question 12

Compare the advantages of light and electron microscopes

Answer 12

Light:
- cheap
- easy
- small

Electron:
- can see sub-cellular structures
- x2000 better than light microscopes
- maximum resolution is 0.1 nanometres

Question 13

Compare the disadvantages of light and electron microscopes

Answer 13

Light:
- relies on light
- limited resolution to 0.2 micrometers
- any details less than 0.2 micrometers appears blurry

Electron:
- very expensive
- difficult to use
- larger in size