Resolution & Magnification
Magnification
Magnification is how many times bigger the image of a specimen observed is in
compared to the actual (real-life) size of the specimen
A light microscope has two types of lens:
o An eyepiece lens, which often has a magnification of x10
o A series of (usually 3) objective lenses, each with a different magnification
To calculate the total magnification the magnification of the eyepiece lens and
the objective lens are multiplied together:
eyepiece lens magnification x objective lens magnification = total magnification
Resolution
Resolution is the ability to distinguish between two separate points
If two separate points cannot be resolved, they will be observed as one point
The resolution of a light microscope is limited by the wavelength of light
As light passes through the specimen, it will be diffracted
The longer the wavelength of light, the more it is diffracted and the more that this
diffraction will overlap as the points get closer together
Electron microscopes have a much higher resolution and magnification than a light
microscope as electrons have a much smaller wavelength than visible light
o This means that they can be much closer before the diffracted beams overlap
The concept of resolution is why the phospholipid bilayer structure of the cell membrane
cannot be observed under a light microscope
o The width of the phospholipid bilayer is about 10nm
o The maximum resolution of a light microscope is 200nm (half the smallest
wavelength of visible light, 400nm)
o Any points that are separated by a distance less than 200nm (such as the 10nm
phospholipid bilayer) cannot be resolved by a light microscope and therefore will
not be distinguishable as “separate”
The resolving power of an electron microscope is much greater than that of the light
microscope, as structures much smaller than the wavelength of light will interfere with a
beam of electrons
Comparison of the electron microscope & light microscope
Light microscopes are used for specimens above 200 nm
o Light microscopes shine light through the specimen, this light is then passed
through an objective lens (which can be changed) and an eyepiece lens (x10)
which magnify the specimen to give an image that can be seen by the naked eye
o The specimens can be living (and therefore can be moving), or dead
o Light microscopes are useful for looking at whole cells, small plant and
animal organisms, tissues within organs such as in leaves or skin
Electron microscopes, both scanning and transmission, are used for specimens above
0.5 nm
o Electron microscopes fire a beam of electrons at the specimen either a broad
static beam (transmission) or a small beam that moves across the specimen
(scanning)
o The electrons are picked up by an electromagnetic lens which then shows the
image
o Due to the higher frequency of electron waves (a much shorter wavelength)
compared to visible light, the magnification and resolution of an electron
microscope is much better than a light microscope
o Electron microscopes are useful for looking at organelles, viruses and DNA as
well as looking at whole cells in more detail
o Electron microscopy requires the specimen to be dead however this can provide
a snapshot in time of what is occurring in a cell eg. DNA can be seen replicating
and chromosome position within the stages of mitosis are visible
Light v Electron Microscope Table
