microscopes Flashcards
(14 cards)
what are the advantages of light microscopes?
● cheaper
● see in colour
● easy to use
● can analyse living and dead samples
what are the disadvantages of light microscopes?
● poor resolution at high magnification
● only has max of x1500 magnification
what are the advantages of electron microscopes?
● high resolution at high magnification
what are the disadvantages of electron microscopes?
● can only analyse dead samples
● can’t see in colour
● more expensive
● harder to use
what is magnification?
making something bigger than it actually is
what is resolution?
ability to distinguish between points close together
why do light microscopes have a poor resolution?
light has longer wave length
why are electrons used to increase resolution?
● electrons have much shorter wavelengths than light
● so higher resolution
what is an optical microscope?
a light microscope
what are the 2 types of electron microscopes?
● transmission electron microscope (TEM)
● scanning electron microscope (SEM)
what are the advantages of transmission electron microscopes?
● can see inner organelles (internal structure)
● higher resolution
what are the disadvantages of transmission electron microscopes?
you need a very thin sample (2D)
what are the advantages of scanning electron microscopes?
● see surface only
● 3D
what are the disadvantages of scanning electron microscopes?
● poorer resolution
