Microscopy Flashcards
(18 cards)
What type of microscope is commonly used in classrooms?
light microscope
what does the term object mean in microscopy
the real object or sample that you are looking at
what does the term image mean in microscopy
the image that we see when we look down the microscope
why does the image appear larger than the real object
the lenses spread out the light rays
what is magnification
how many times larger the image is than the object
what is the equation for magnification
magnification = image size/actual size
what does resolution mean
the shortest distance between two points on an object that can still be distinguished as two separate entities
What is the pathway of light through a microscope?
Light source ➔ stage ➔ microscope slide ➔ object ➔ objective lens ➔ body tube ➔ eyepiece lens ➔ eye
what is the point of microscopes
magnify small objects so they appear larger
What is a key advantage of light microscopes?
small, easy to use, and relatively cheap
What is the resolution limit of light microscopes?
0.2 micrometers
Why do light microscopes struggle to study sub-cellular structures?
Because their resolution is limited to 0.2 micrometers
What type of microscope is used primarily by scientists in laboratories?
electron microscopes
What is a disadvantage of electron microscopes?
large, expensive, and hard to use
How does the resolution of electron microscopes compare to that of light microscopes?
Electron microscopes have 2000 times better resolution
What type of structures can electron microscopes be used to study?
Sub-cellular structures like mitochondria
What are the pros and cons of light and electron microscopes?
Light Microscopes:
Pros: Small, easy to use, cheap
Cons: Limited resolution (0.2 micrometers)
Electron Microscopes:
Pros: High resolution (0.1 nanometers), can study sub-cellular structures
Cons: Large, expensive, hard to use
order of units from km (most to least)
km - m - mm - micrometers - nanometers
