Microscopy

Question 1

How are cells studied?

Answer 1

Using a microscope

Question 2

How do light microscopes work?

Answer 2

They use light and lenses to form an image of a specimen and magnify it.

Question 3

What can you see when using a light microscope?

Answer 3

We can see individual cells and large subcellular structures, leg nuclei

Question 4

How do electron microscopes work?

Answer 4

They use electrons instead of light to form an image

Question 5

What are the differences between electron microscopes and light microscopes?

Answer 5

Electron microscopes have a much higher magnification than light microscopes.
Electron microscopes have a higher resolution.

Question 6

What is resolution?

Answer 6

Resolution is the ability to distinguish between two points, so a higher resolution gives a sharper image.

Question 7

What can you see with a electron microscope?

Answer 7

They let us see much smaller things in more detail, like the internal structure of mitochondria and chloroplasts. They even let us see tinier things like ribosomes and plasmids.

Question 8

What is the formulae for magnification?

Answer 8

Magnification = image size / real size

Note: image size and real size should be in the same unit when calculating.

Question 9

Q: A specimen is 50 (micrometers) wide. Calculate the width of the image of the specimen under a magnification of x 100. Give your answer in mm

Answer 9

5 mm

Question 10

Q: A cheek cell is viewed under a microscope with x 40 magnification.
The image of the cell is 2.4mm wide.
Calculate the real width of the check cell. Give your answer in micrometers.

Answer 10

60 micrometers