MICROSCOPE
What is a Microscope?
●instrument that produces enlarged images of small objects, allowing the observer an
exceedingly close view of minute structures at a scale convenient for examination and
analysis. Although optical microscopes are the subject of this article, an image may also
be enlarged by many other wave forms, including acoustic, X-ray, or electron beam, and
be received by direct or digital imaging or by a combination of these methods. The
microscope may provide a dynamic image (as with conventional optical instruments) or
one that is static (as with conventional scanning electron microscopes).
■A microscope is a laboratory instrument used to examine objects that are too small
to be seen by the naked eye.
●Microscopy is the science of investigating small objects and structures using a
microscope. Microscopic means being invisible to the eye unless aided by a
microscope.
●an optical instrument used for viewing very small objects, such as mineral samples
or animal or plant cells, typically magnified several hundred times.
●an instrument that can be used to observe small objects, even cells.
WHAT DOES MICROSCOPE MEAN?
The word “microscope” comes from the Latin “microscopium,” which is derived from the
Greek words “mikros,” meaning “small,” and “skopein,” meaning “to look at.”
WHO INVENTED THE MICROSCOPE?
It is not definitively known who invented the microscope. However, the earliest
microscopes seem to have been made by Dutch opticians Hans Janssen and his son
Zacharias Janssen and by Dutch instrument maker Hans Lippershey (who also invented
the telescope) about 1590.
Types Of Microscope
Simple Microscope
Compound Microscope
Electron Microscope
Stereo Microscope
Scanning Probe Microscope
SIMPLE MICROSCOPE
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a magnifying glass that has a double convex lens with a short focal length. Examples of
this kind of instrument include the hand lens and reading lens. When an object is kept
near the lens, then its principal focus with an image is produced, which is erect and
bigger than the original object.
Examples of this kind of instrument include the hand lens and reading lens. When an
object is kept near the lens, then its principal focus with an image is produced, which is
erect and bigger than the original object.
This uses a single lens for the magnification of the sample.
Simple microscope is used to see the magnified image of an object. Antonie Van
Leeuwenhoek, a Dutch, invented the first simple microscope, consisting of a small
single high-powered converging lens to inspect the small micro-organisms of
freshwater. It is chiefly designed from the light microscope.
Parts of a Simple Microscope
The base: The whole microscope is mounted on the base
Stage and the stage clips: This is where the specimen is kept for observation, and the
clips hold the sample in position
Eyepiece: It is the lens through which one sees the sample
Tube: The tube connects the eyepiece and the objective
Objective lens: The objective lens is the lens used for magnification. The objective lens
is colour coded for the reference of magnification, 10X, 40X
Nose piece: The nose piece is revolving and is known as the turret
Diaphragm: The diaphragm controls the light that passes through the stage
Coarse and fine adjustment knobs: Two knobs that can be used for adjustment or fine-
tuning of the focus
Condenser: It is used for focussing the light on the sample
Compound Microscope
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Defined as a type of microscope that gas ore than one lens.
Has a combination of lenses and two optical parts known as an objective lens and
an eyepiece or ocular lens.
Electron Microscope
The source of illumination is the beam of accelerated electrons.
Special type of microscopes with high resolution of images as the images can be
magnified in nanometers.
Uses beams of electrons rather than light.
High voltage current is applied which results in the excitation of the electrons in the
form of continuous stream that used as a beam of light.
TWO TYPES OF ELECTRON MICROSCOPES
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(A) Transmission electron microscope (TEM)
creates an image by detecting reflected or knocked-off electrons
(B) Scanning electron microscope (SEM)
uses transmitted electrons (electrons that are passing through the sample) to create
an image.
Stereo Microscope
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Provides three-dimensional view of a specimen.
Known as a dissecting microscope.
There are separate objective lenses and eyepiece such that there are two separate
optical paths each eye.
Scanning Probe Microscope
Finds applications in industries where the examination of the specimen is done at
the nanoscale levels.
The study of a specimen’s properties, its reaction time and its behavior when
stimulated can be done with the help of a scanning probe microscope.
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The final image after scanning is obtained on the computer.
MICROSCOPE VOCABULARY
(1) Magnification
increase of an object’s apparent size.
Your microscope has 3 magnifications:
(a) Scanning (b) Low (c) High
each objective will have written the magnification.
the ocular lens or the eyepiece has a magnification.
The total magnification is the ocular x objective
(2) Resolution
power to show details clearly.
Parts of the Microscope
Head
The head is the uppermost part of the microscope and this head portion is also known
as the body tube. It connects the eyepiece and objective lenses.
Arm
The arm is the structural part that connects the head part of the microscope to the base.
It is also used for carrying the microscope.
Base
The base is the bottom of the microscope on which it stands. It provides overall support.
Eyepiece
The eyepiece is seen at the top of the microscope and it consists of two lenses: the
ocular and the eyepiece. The power of an ocular lens usually varies from 5x to 30x.
The use of an eyepiece in the microscope is to see the specimen and identify the image
of the specimen. It also helps to correct the defects that are present in the specimen.
Eyepiece Tube
It is located above the head portion of a microscope and it is used to connect the ocular
lens and eyepiece to the objective lenses.
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Nosepiece
Just below the eyepiece tube, the nosepiece is located. It is used to hold the objective
lenses. The nosepiece is also known as a revolving turret. It is also used to change the
magnification power by simply rotating it.
Objective Lenses
These are located just below the nosepiece. There are usually 3 to 4 objective lenses in
a microscope with different magnification powers. Also, 4x (scanning objective), 10x
(low power), 40x (high power), and 100x (oil immersion) are the most common kinds of
objective lenses.
These lenses are used to increase the magnification levels, and to bring together the
light rays coming from all the points of the specimen/object.
The Adjustment Knob
These are located over the objective lenses and these two adjustable knobs are
commonly known as the Fine Adjustment Knob and the Coarse Focus Knob. The first
dial that is used to bring the object/specimen in focus is the Coarse Focus Knob and the
second dial that is used to bring the specimen in focus is the Fine Focus Knob.
Stage
It is a flat platform found just below the objective lenses and there is a test
specimen/sample that is placed over it for simple viewing. Also, most microscopes
consist of a mechanical stage that has a knob to control the slide.
Stage Clips
Every microscope has two stage clips and it is located just over the stage. The function
of stage clips in the microscope is to hold the object/specimen slides in place.
Aperture
The aperture is the hole in the stage that is located just below the objective lenses. It
helps in transmitting the base lightly to the stage.
Microscopic Illuminator
The optical microscope contains an internal source of light known as an illuminator. It is
located at the base of the microscope. These work as a built-in light source of a
microscope, and even catch the light from other external sources.
Rack Stop
It regulates the distance of the stages. Moreover, it also prevents the objective lens from
being too close to the specimen slide. It is found over the stage.
Condenser
A condenser lens is used to illuminate the light that shines through the slides and helps
attain the sharp images of the object to be studied or observed on the microscope
stage. They have a very high magnification of 400X. These condensers that have high
magnification powers usually produce a high-quality image.
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Diaphragm
It is also known as iris, it helps change the intensity and the size of the cone of light that
is illuminated upwards in the slide. Also, it is located just above the condenser.
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