Microscopy

Question 1

What is the magnification of the lens on your microscopes, ordered based on the length of the objectives?

Answer 1

ocular: 10x

scanning power objective lens: 4x

low-power objective: 10x

high power lens: 40x

oil immersion lens: 100x

Question 2

What is the field of view?

Answer 2

It is all you can see through the eyepiece.

Question 3

What is the the oil immersion lens used with?

Answer 3

A drop of oil on the slide.

Question 4

What is supported by the arm?

Answer 4

The stage and condenser lens and iris diaphragm

Question 5

What is the condenser lens?

Answer 5

It is located immediately beneath the stage and is used to focus the light from the lamp into a cone and shine it onto the specimen.

Question 6

What is the stage?

Answer 6

It is the platform the slide rests on while being viewed.

Question 7

How do you move a mechanical stage?

Answer 7

With the stage adjustment knobs.

Question 8

What does the coarse and fine focus adjustment knobs do?

Answer 8

They control the distance between the stage and the objective.

Question 9

What does the base do?

Answer 9

It is the bottom of the microscope and holds the lamp.

Question 10

How do you turn the lamp on?

Answer 10

With a switch.

Question 11

What does the light intensity lever or knob do, and why do we need it?

Answer 11

It controls the intensity of the light that passes through the specimen. Generally more light
is needed when using high magnification than when using low magnification.

Question 12

What do you do when you are done with the microscope?

Answer 12

Remove the slide from the stage and turn the nosepiece so that the scanning objective is in position. Turn off the light switch and pull out the plug. Wrap the cord around the base of the scope.

Question 13

How to use the microscope?

Answer 13

Use the x-y stage movement knobs until the image is centered.
Start with the scanning power objective, manipulate the adjustment knobs until the image is clear, switch to a higher objective, and repeat the process until you the image is clear while the high power objective is in place. Don’t forget to experiment with the lamp too.

Question 14

What should you never do?

Answer 14

Focus downward with the

coarse adjustment knob when using high power; a sure way to crack a slide.

Question 15

What is up with the image when you use the microscope?

Answer 15

It is inverted (upside down and left side right)

Question 16

What is the depth of field?

Answer 16

It is an area between the objective lens and the lamp that the specimen can be in while remaining in acceptable focus.

Question 17

As magnification increases, what happens to the depth of field?

Answer 17

As the magnification increases, the depth of field decreases.

Question 18

As magnification increases, what happens to the field of view?

Answer 18

As the magnification increases, the field of view decreases.

Question 19

What is the difference between a prepared slide and a wet mount?

Answer 19

You can see stuff on a prepared slide better than on a wet mount, but you can’t have anything “living” on a prepared slide, unlike the wet mount.

Question 20

What is the structure of the stage?

Answer 20

The stage always has a hole in it to let light pass through both it and the specimen. There is a clip apparatus
that holds the slide.