Microscopes

Question 1

What are the three types of microscope

Answer 1

Light
Scanning electron
Transmission electron

Question 2

What are the benefits of using a light microscope

Answer 2

Easy
Cheap
Accessible
Colour image

Question 3

What are the limitations of using a light microscope

Answer 3

Much lower magnification and resolution

Can’t see small organelles like ribosomes

Question 4

What are the benefits of scanning electron microscopes

Answer 4

Much better magnification and resolution than light microscope (wavelength is shorter)
Forms a 3D image
Don’t need a thin section to study

Question 5

What are the limitations of a scanning electron microscope

Answer 5

Lower magnification and resolution than transmission

Can’t see internal structure

Question 6

What are the benefits of a transmission electron microscope

Answer 6

Best magnification and resolution
Shorter wavelength of electrons than light
Allows internal structures to be seen

Question 7

What are the limitations of the transmission electron microscope

Answer 7

Can’t look at living cells
Need to be in a vacuum
Need to create a thin slice of specimen which can create artefacts
Doesn’t form a colour image