Bilii Flashcards
What is the primary function of microscopes in biology?
To see things that we can’t see with the naked eye.
What are light microscopes used for?
To form an image of a specimen using light and lenses and to magnify it.
What can light microscopes allow us to see?
Individual cells and large subcellular structures, like nuclei.
What is the key difference between light microscopes and electron microscopes?
Electron microscopes use electrons instead of light and have higher magnification and resolution.
What does resolution refer to in microscopy?
The ability to distinguish between two points; higher resolution gives a sharper image.
What type of structures can electron microscopes reveal?
Internal structures of mitochondria and chloroplasts, as well as ribosomes and plasmids.
What is the formula for magnification?
magnification = image size / real size.
What must be true about the units for image size and real size when using the magnification formula?
They should have the same units.
How do you convert micrometres (μm) to millimetres (mm)?
Divide by 1000.
Fill in the blank: To calculate the width of an image under magnification, use the formula _______.
image size = magnification x real size.
What is standard form used for in microscopy?
To write very big or small numbers in a more manageable way.
How do you determine the power of 10 when converting to standard form?
Count how many places the decimal point moves; positive if moved left, negative if moved right.
Convert 0.0025 mm to standard form.
2.5 × 10^-3.
If a cheek cell is viewed under a microscope with × 40 magnification and the image is 2.4 mm wide, what is the real width of the cheek cell in μm?
60 μm.
True or False: Electron microscopes have lower resolution than light microscopes.
False.
What is the relationship between magnification and resolution?
Higher magnification often requires higher resolution to produce a clear image.
