Transcript Microscope Notes

Microscope Notes
You will need some paper to and your work sheet with the
microscope
Label the parts of the microscope as we review them
1. Eyepiece or Ocular lens:
An eyepiece is a magnifying lens attached to the
microscope which helps in magnifying the sample
object. It is called an eyepiece as we need to
place our eye near it in order to see the
magnifying image of the sample.
2. Body Tube:
A body tube is an integral part of the microscope
as it holds the eye piece and connects it to the
objective.
3. Arm:
 The arm is the part of
microscope that connects to
the base and helps carry the
microscope easily. One can
hold the arm with on hand
and put another hand under
the base of the microscope
so that it can be carried
easily.
Historic microscopes
4. Base:
The base is the bottom part of the microscope,
usually made up of durable material as it
supports the microscope to stand and provides
stability. The base is very important as stability is
very important to gain accurate results. With an
unstable base, the results may not be as accurate
as we require.
5. Illuminator:
An illuminator is a source of light usually situated
at the bottom/ base of the microscope. It is a low
voltage halogen bulb of about 110 volts to
provide steady light to the sample in order to
facilitate the experiment/study.
6. Stage:
 A stage is an indispensable part of
the microscope. It is a flat surface
where the slide with the specimen
is placed. A mechanical stage is a
stage used when working with
higher magnifications. It is moved
by using knobs as even the slightest
moment can affect the results.
7. Stage Clip:
 Stage clips are used to hold the
slides in place in the absence of
a mechanical stage. It is used in
comparatively simpler
experiments. But even in
simpler experiments, the
movement of slides is crucial
hence stage clips are used to
provide stability to the slides.
8. Revolving Nosepiece or Turret:
 A nosepiece is the part of
the microscope which holds
two or more objectives
simultaneously to provide
various magnifications in
order to view the same
specimen in various
dimensions.
9. Objective lens:
 Objective lens is the part of microscope responsible for
magnifying the image of specimen. Usually there are
three objective lenses in a standard microscope of 10X,
40X and 100X. Depending upon the aim of study and
nature of the specimen, the most suitable objective
lens can be brought to use.
11. Condenser Lens:
 The function of the condenser
lens is to collect the light from
the illuminator and focus it on
the specimen. A microscope
with a condenser provides
with a sharper and clearer
image than a microscope
without a condenser.
12. Diaphragm or Iris:
The diaphragm is used to control the amount of
light reaching the specimen. In a student scope it
is a rotating disk under the stage and above the
condenser. There are various holes in the
diaphragm in order to facilitate the variants in the
experiments carried on.
13. Coarse adjustment knob:
 A coarse adjustment knob is a knob
present on the arm of a microscope. The
main function of this knob is to move the
specimen back or forth to adjust the slide
containing specimen in order to bring it
to focus and show the best image
possible. The coarse adjustment should
be carefully moved and adjusted to attain
desired results.
14. Fine Adjustment Knob:
 This knob is a sub part
of the Coarse
adjustment knob. It is
used to bring the
specimen into sharp
focus.
15. Power Switch:
 A Power switch is an electrical
switch present at the bottom of
the microscope in order to switch
of the light source i.e., the
illuminator. At times the
researcher/user does not require
the light from illuminator. In such a
case, the power switch can be used
to turn off the illuminator.
16. Low Power Objective:
Low Power objective is a short length objective, most
widely used in the microscopes to view slides. Usually the
experiments carried, use low power objective until the
study of the specimen is very specific.
Also due to the short length of the objective, it avoids
hitting into the slide and protecting it from breaking.
17. High Power Objective:
 High power objective, also
known as high-dry objective
is used to study a specimen
in very fine and detailed
manner. It is a bit longer in
length than the low power
objective and needs to be
handled with care.
18. Specimen on the Glass slide:
 A glass slide is a thin and flat piece of
glass used in the microscope. The
specimen is kept on the glass slide and
put under the objective in order to
study it. A typical glass slide is of
dimensions 75x 26mm and about 1 mm
thick. The specimen on the glass slide is
further covered with a very thin and
smaller sheet of glass called a cover slip
so that the specimen doesn’t spill on
the glass slide.
19. Aperture:
 Aperture is a small hole
in the stage through
which the light is
transmitted and passed
on to the slide.