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Microscope Introduction
Bryan Schuerman, [Link].
7th Grade General Science
Lincoln Middle School
Shinnston, Harrison County, West Virginia
The History
• Many people experimented with making
microscopes
• Was the microscope originally made by
accident? (Most people were creating
telescopes)
• The first microscope was 6 feet long!!!
• The Greeks & Romans used “lenses” to
magnify objects over 1000 years ago.
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The History
• Hans and Zacharias Janssen of Holland
in the 1590’s created the “first”
compound microscope
• Anthony van Leeuwenhoek and Robert
Hooke made improvements by working
on the lenses
Anthony van Leeuwenhoek Hooke Microscope Robert Hooke
1632-1723 1635-1703
The History
Zacharias Jansen The “First” Microscope
1588-1631
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How a Microscope Works
Convex Lenses are
curved glass used to
make microscopes
(and glasses etc.)
Convex Lenses bend
light and focus it in
one spot.
How a Microscope Works
Ocular Lens Objective Lens
(Magnifies Image) (Gathers Light,
Magnifies
And Focuses Image
Body Tube Inside Body Tube)
(Image Focuses)
•Bending Light: The objective (bottom) convex lens
magnifies and focuses (bends) the image inside the
body tube and the ocular convex (top) lens of a
microscope magnifies it (again).
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The Parts of a Microscope
Ocular Lens
Body Tube
Nose Piece
Arm
Objective
Lenses
Stage
Stage
Clips
Coarse Adj.
Diaphragm Fine Adjustment
Light Source
Base
Skip to Magnification Section
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Body Tube
• The body tube holds the objective
lenses and the ocular lens at the proper
distance
Diagram
Nose Piece
• The Nose Piece holds the objective
lenses and can be turned to increase
the magnification
Diagram
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Objective Lenses
• The Objective Lenses increase
magnification (usually from 10x to 40x)
Diagram
Stage Clips
• These 2 clips hold the slide/specimen in
place on the stage.
Diagram
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Diaphragm
• The Diaphragm controls the amount of
light on the slide/specimen
Turn to let more light in or to
make dimmer.
Diagram
Light Source
• Projects light upwards through the
diaphragm, the specimen and the
lenses
• Some have lights, others have mirrors
where you must move the mirror to
reflect light
Diagram
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Ocular Lens/Eyepiece
• Magnifies the specimen image
Diagram
Arm
• Used to support the microscope when
carried. Holds the body tube, nose
piece and objective lenses
Diagram
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Stage
• Supports the slide/specimen
Diagram
Coarse Adjustment Knob
• Moves the stage up and down (quickly)
for focusing your image
Diagram
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Fine Adjustment Knob
• This knob moves the stage SLIGHTLY
to sharpen the image
Diagram
Base
• Supports the microscope
Diagram
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Magnification
Magnification
• To determine your magnification…you
just multiply the ocular lens by the
objective lens
• Ocular 10x Objective 40x:10 x 40 = 400
So the object is 400 times “larger”
Objective Lens have
their magnification
written on them.
Ocular lenses usually magnifies by 10x
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Caring for a Microscope
• Clean only with a soft cloth/tissue
• Make sure it’s on a flat surface
• Don’t bang it
• Carry it with 2 HANDS…one on the arm
and the other on the base
Carry a Microscope Correctly
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Using a Microscope
• Start on the lowest magnification
• Don’t use the coarse adjustment knob
on high magnification…you’ll break the
slide!!!
• Place slide on stage and lock clips
• Adjust light source (if it’s a mirror…don’t
stand in front of it!)
• Use fine adjustment to focus
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