15 Questions
What is the correct procedure to clean the optical parts of a microscope?
Use a lens paper to clean the lens, objectives, condenser, and mirror
What should you never do when looking through the eyepiece of a microscope?
Focus downward with the coarse adjustment
Where should you place the microscope when not in use?
At a safe distance from the edge of the table
Which part of the microscope should never be removed?
Any part
What position should the mirror be in before returning the microscope?
Horizontally
What is the function of the eyepiece or ocular in a compound microscope?
To magnify the object several times
Which type of objective lens is used to study the detailed parts of a specimen in a compound microscope?
High-power objective (HPO)
What is the function of an oil immersion objective (OIO) in a compound microscope?
To focus very close to the slide using special oil
Which part of a compound microscope serves as a detachable cylinder situated on top of the draw tube?
Eyepiece or Ocular
How does the high-power objective (HPO) differ from the low-power objective (LPO) in a compound microscope?
HPO has higher magnifying power than LPO
Why is an oil immersion objective (OIO) necessary for some detailed observations in a compound microscope?
To focus very close to the slide with special oil
Which part of the compound microscope needs to be held with both hands while carrying it?
Base
What role does the revolving nosepiece play in a compound microscope?
To hold the objectives
Why does an oil immersion objective (OIO) focus very close to the slide in a compound microscope?
To enhance clarity and magnification of details
What makes the high-power objective (HPO) suitable for studying detailed parts of a specimen in a compound microscope?
Its high magnifying power
Study Notes
Microscopy Basics
- Microscopy is the study of minute objects or organisms that are invisible or poorly seen by the unaided eye.
- A microscope is an optical instrument with two lens systems: the objective and the eyepiece or ocular.
Mechanical Parts of a Compound Microscope
- Base: The U-shaped or V-shaped part that supports the entire microscope.
- Pillar: A firm support that attaches the arm to the base.
- Inclination joint: A movable hinge that attaches the frame of the microscope to the base, allowing tilting for user convenience.
- Arm: The curved part that connects the base to the body tube, serving as the handle and supporting the optical mechanism.
- Stage: A platform where the slide containing the specimen is placed, with a central opening for light to pass through.
- Stage clip/Mechanical stage: Holds the slide in place, with some microscopes featuring a mechanical stage for moving the specimen.
- Substage: Located below the stage, holding the Abbe condenser and iris diaphragm.
Other Mechanical Parts
- Body tube: A hollow cylinder attaching the draw tube to the microscope and allowing light to pass from the objective to the ocular.
- Draw tube: A smaller cylinder attached to the body tube, holding the ocular.
- Revolving nosepiece: Attached to the base of the body tube, holding the objectives.
- Dust shield: Protects the objective lenses from dust.
- Adjustment knobs: Coarse and fine adjustment knobs for focusing objectives.
Illuminating Parts
- Mirror: Collects and reflects light through the objective lenses and into the eye, with concave and plane mirrors for different light sources.
- Abbe condenser: Condenses and concentrates reflected light from the mirror to the object or specimen.
- Iris diaphragm: Controls the amount of light striking the object using a lever.
Magnifying Parts
- Eyepiece or Ocular: A detachable cylinder with a lens that magnifies the object several times, sometimes featuring a pointer.
- Objectives: Low-power objective (LPO), high-power objective (HPO), and oil immersion objective (OIO) for different levels of magnification.
Care of the Microscope
- Always use both hands when carrying the microscope, with one hand on the arm and the other under the base.
- Clean optical parts with lens paper and a clean cloth dampened with xylol after use.
- Avoid removing parts, focusing downward with the coarse adjustment, and placing the microscope near the edge of the table.
- Ensure the microscope is returned in a safe condition, with all parts intact, not tilted, and clean.
Learn about the mechanical parts of a compound microscope, such as the base and pillar, and understand their functions. Explore how a compound microscope can magnify an image several hundred times the actual size of an object.
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