Our Microscope
6th Grade Science
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use.
Photo by D. Tresten, 2002
Compoundmicroscope
Eye piece
Body tube
Base
Coarse adjustment knob
Arm
Fine adjustment knob
Revolving nosepiece
Diaphragm
Light source
Stage opening
Stage clips
Stage
Magnify 10 X
Objectivelens
IMPORTANT!Watch How Light Travels Through a
MicroscopeNote: Just study the vertical (up and down) portion of the light
beam! The horizontal (right/left) portion is not in our microscope.
Molecular Expressions Microscopy Primer: Anatomy of the Microscope - Transmitted Light Microscopy Optical Pathways: Interactive Java Tutorial
Which type of lens is in a microscope?
• Convex Lens(Pooches out in the middle!)
• Concave Lens(Caves in in the middle!)
A convex lens is used in the microscope.
Total Magnification -What is it?
To find the total magnification at which a microscope is set, just multiply the power of the eyepiece (10x) times the power of the objective that is in place.
Click to practice finding total magnification…
Practice calculating Total Magnification:
If the eye piece is 10 x and the objective lens is 40 x the
magnification is...
If the eye piece is 10 x and the objective lens is 20 x the
magnification is...
If the eye piece is 10 x and the objective lens is 10 x the
magnification is...
400x
200x
100x
Microscope Rules
1. Always use two handsto carry a microscope!
One hand goes under the baseand one on the arm.
3.Be cautious when handling glass slides. Notify teacher if a slide breaks.
(Students should not handle broken glass.)
4. Always keep the scope away from the _______ of the_________.
Care of the MicroscopePage 3 of 3
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1. STAGE down! (away from objectives)
2. Plug in the microscope.3. Twist 4x (Low-Power) OBJECTIVE until it
clicks into place! (using nosepiece NOT objectives)
4. Stage CLIPS out!5. SLIDE on6. Stage CLIPS back in (carefully placed on top
of slide)
7. Switch on LAMP
Before using the Scope, Wake It Up:
Use of the MicroscopePage 1
2. Set Scope to Low Power (4x)
In other words, set the 4x objective in place over the stage opening.
4x Objective
Use of the MicroscopePage 3
5. If there is too little light, rotate the disc diaphragm to another opening.
How to Focus on a Specimen, Cont’d:
Close-up of disc diaphragm(as seen from underneaththe stage)
Do you see the largest hole that lets the most light pass? Which hole transmits the least light?
Always put our microscopes “to bed” after labs:
Use of the MicroscopePage 4
1. Lamp off
2. Unplug
3. Stage down (Away from objectives)
4. All slides are removed
5. Clips IN
6. Clean stage
7. Dust cover ON
8. Put all slides and other materials in proper places
Why Learn to Use a Microscope?
To see cool things like anything on the following
web page!
http://www.molecularexpressions.com/moviegallery/pondscum.html
Magnify 10x
Support / Hold lenses in place
Support microscope
Focus quickly but imperfectly (coarsely)
Hold body tube/Carry
Focus very slowly more perfectly (actually moves the stage away from/toward the objectives)
To turn objectives (lenses) into place
over specimenTo magnify 40x
Allow more/less light
Send light up through specimen
Allow light to reach specimen / Catch spilledmatter
To magnify about 10X
Hold slide
To magnify about 4X