Key Concepts in Biology (1.3 Microscopy Intro)

Question 1

What is Microscopy?

Answer 1

It is the use of Microscopes

Question 2

What are the parts of a light microscope?

Answer 2

1) Base
2) Arm
3) Light Source
4) Stage
5) Fine and Coarse Focusing Dials
6) High and Low Objective Lenses
7) Eyepiece Lens

Question 3

How do Light Microscopes work?

Answer 3

1) They pass light through the specimen

2) Allowing us to study living cells

Question 4

What does the term ‘object’ mean?

Answer 4

The real specimen you are looking at

Question 5

What does ‘image’ mean?

Answer 5

The image we see when we look down the microscope

Question 6

What is the functions of the Objective Lenses?

Answer 6

They magnify the image so it has a greater resolution

Question 7

What is the functions of the Focusing Dials?

Answer 7

They move the stage up and down to allow you to focus on the specimen

Question 8

What is the equation for Magnification?

Answer 8

Magnification = Image Size/Object Size

Question 9

Define the term Resolution.

Answer 9

It is a measure of how detailed the image is

Question 10

Core Practical - Light Microscope to view a slide:

1) Place the slide onto the stage and use the clips to hold the slide in place

2) Select the lowest power objective lens (usually 4×)

3) Position objective lens so it nearly touches the microscope slide

4) To do this slowly turn the coarse focusing dial (it is important to look at the microscope from the side whilst doing this)

5) When the objective lens almost touches the slide stop turning the dial

6) If we look through the eyepiece while positioning the objective lens there is a risk of damaging the slide

7) Look through the eyepiece and slowly turn the coarse focusing dial until the image is in focus

8) Lastly use the fine focusing dial to clearly focus the image