Name _________________________________ Date ________________ Score ___________
Laboratory Activity No. 2
THE COMPOUND MICROSCOPE
Objectives:
1. To familiarize yourself with the microscope.
2. To identify its parts and its functions.
3. To suggest ways of caring the microscope.
Materials: Compound microscope
The microscope is a very valuable instrument. It enables us to get minute objects at higher
magnification. The parts of the microscope can be divided into three groups namely: supporting system to
hold the parts together, illuminating system to provide light and the optical system to magnify the
specimens. The microscope is a sensitive, delicate and expensive instrument thus it must be handled with
great care.
When handling the microscope please observe the following:
1. In carrying the microscope, hold the arm with one hand and support the base with the other
hand.
2. Use only soft lens paper to clean the lenses and the mirrors.
3. Never allow the liquid used in mounting the specimen to spill over the stage.
4. Do not remove lenses and objectives. They may accumulate dust and/or get scratched.
Parts of a Compound Microscope:
A. Supporting System
The base supports the whole microscope.
The arm is where the instrument is held when in transit.
The body tube holds the eyepiece.
The stage has an aperture where the specimen is placed and held by the stage clips
B. Illuminating System
The mirror which is screwed to the base reflects light upwards. The light may come from
a lamp, or ordinary daylight. Usually, the concave mirror is used for illumination. Some
microscopes use a built-in light source instead of a mirror.
Below the stage is the iris diaphragm that regulates the amount of light passing upward
from the mirror to the condenser, which focuses light on the specimen to be studied.
C. Magnifying System or Optical System
At the upper end of the body tube is mounted the eyepiece or ocular, whose lens
magnifies ten times (10x), as labeled on its surface.
At the lower end of the tube, the revolving nosepiece is found with 2 or 3 objectives. The
low power objective (LPO) magnifies 10x and is used to locate the specimen. The high-power
objective (HPO) magnifies 40x or 60x and is used to focus on a specific part of the specimen.
The coarse adjustment knob is used to bring the specimen into focus under low power
while fine adjustment knob is for focusing under high power.
The total magnification of a specimen is equal to the product of the magnifications of the
eyepiece and objective being used. So, with a 10x eyepiece, under 10x low power objective the
total magnification is 100x.
Care of the Eyes
Proper care of the eyes should be observed in microscopy to avoid fatigue or damage to vision.
The following ways are suggested:
1. Adjust the mirror and the opening of the diaphragm must be adjusted so that the amount of
light obtained is just enough for the object to be seen by the eye without strain. Too much light can be
glaring and this will cause eye fatigue.
2. Keep both eyes open in when viewing under the microscope. Focusing with only one eye
will result in fatigue of eye muscles. Usually, the left eye is used for microscope work while the right eye
is for drawing. It would be wise to alternate the eyes at work to avoid fatigue. In doing this, you must
remember that your eyes may not have the same grade of vision. So simply manipulate the fine adjustment
knob until the proper focus is obtained.
3. If you are wearing eyeglasses to correct near or farsightedness, the eyeglasses need not be
worn when using the microscope. Just manipulate the fine adjustment knob to obtain a clear focus.
However, if your eyeglasses are used to correct astigmatism or for reading, it is necessary to wear them
in order to prevent headache.
Activities:
1. Identify the parts by labeling the microscope in the diagram and indicate the function of each
part.
2. Draw other types of microscopes and describe each type.
Diagram:
PARTS FUNCTIONS
Optical Parts
Mechanical Parts
Illuminating Parts
Draw Other Types of Microscopes:
