Microscopy Flashcards
What is the purpose of a microscope?
To magnify small objects, such as biological specimens, mounted on glass slides
What is the power of the eyepiece lens?
10x
What is the power of the low power objective lens?
4x
Total magnification: 40x
What is the power of the medium power objective lens?
10x
Total magnification: 100x
What is the power of the high power objective lens?
40x
Total magnification: 400x
How do you calculate the total magnification?
Total magnification = eyepiece x objective
What structures are visible at x40 magnification?
No organelles
Only can see the cells
What structures are visible at 100x magnification?
Visible nucleus
What structures are visible at 400x magnification?
Nucleus
Mitochondria
Cytoplasm
Why must the sample be thin when preparing it to be viewed under a microscope?
Allow light to pass through
Why must the sample be stained when preparing it to be viewed under a microscope?
Makes structures more visible
Adds contrast
Why might staining your sample sometimes be a disadvantage?
Stains could be toxic
May harm or kill the organisms
What does the magnification tell us?
The number of times bigger an image is than the actual size of the object from which it is derived
What is the equation for working out magnification?
Magnification = image size / actual size
