Investigating Cells Flashcards
How many centimetres in a metre?
100
How many millimetres in a cell?
1000
How many micrometers in a cell?
1 000 000
How many nanometres in a cell?
1 000 000 000
What is meant by resolution ?
It is not possible to see cells as separate objects using the naked eye. The ability to see two or more objects as separate objects is called resolution
When was the light microscope developed and what did it do ?
The light microscope was developed in the late 16th century and gave a greater resolution than the human eye allowing scientists to see plant, animal and bacteria cells.
What were some problems of the light microscope ?
Some sub-cellular structures are even smaller than the resolution achieved by a light microscope and cannot be seen using it
What microscope was developed in 1933?
The electron microscope
How does the electron microscope work ?
An electron microscope passes electrons, rather than light, through the specimen and can give a much better resolution
Cells could now be seen much finer due to the electron microscope. Give an example of what could now be seen ?
The structures inside the mitochondria and chloroplasts can be studied and allowed scientists to find it how they work
Ribosomes can be seen and their role in making proteins can be studied
What is the equation for magnification ?
Magnification = image size / actual size
