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Introduction To The Microscope VIRTUAL LAB

The document provides an introduction to using a light microscope, including identifying its parts and how to properly focus samples at different magnifications. It describes how microscopes allow viewing microscopic organisms and cells through magnification and staining. The procedure guides using an online microscope simulator to view a sample slide at 4x, 10x, 40x, and 100x magnifications, demonstrating increased size and detail seen at higher powers. Sketches are made of the sample at each magnification.

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Tianjia Mao
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195 views5 pages

Introduction To The Microscope VIRTUAL LAB

The document provides an introduction to using a light microscope, including identifying its parts and how to properly focus samples at different magnifications. It describes how microscopes allow viewing microscopic organisms and cells through magnification and staining. The procedure guides using an online microscope simulator to view a sample slide at 4x, 10x, 40x, and 100x magnifications, demonstrating increased size and detail seen at higher powers. Sketches are made of the sample at each magnification.

Uploaded by

Tianjia Mao
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction to the Microscope

OVERVIEW
In this pre-lab exercise, you will be introduced to the concepts of light microscopy and learn how to safely use
compound light microscopes in a lab environment.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Identify the parts of the light microscope and describe the function of each.
• List the steps in focusing a light microscope.
• Describe how to properly handle the light microscope, focus slides, and clean the microscope when finished.

BACKGROUND
When we walk out the door each day we see many examples of life on earth – trees, birds, other humans. Unless we
look closer we will miss the huge diversity of life that is too small to be seen with our eyes alone. The majority of life on
earth is microscopic and, until tools were available to see these organisms, they were completely overlooked. One of
the first tools that opened our eyes to microbial life was the microscope. The light microscope uses lenses along with
light to magnify items up to 1000x. This allows us to see organisms like bacteria, archaea, yeasts, protozoans, and algae
that we would never notice because they are so small. In addition, we can also look closer to see cells that are the
building blocks of the macroscopic organisms (like ourselves, the trees, and birds we noticed earlier.)

In addition to magnifying organisms, most cells are colorless so many times preparing slides also involves adding
stains (dyes) to color the cells so they are more easily viewed. The slides you will practice with today are either natu-
rally pigmented or have been stained so we can find them more easily. Look for these colors as you are focusing the
virtual microscope. This pre-lab will allow you to become familiar with how a microscope works. You can use what you
have learned in lab with an actual microscope to find and view cells.

THE MICROSCOPE AND YOUR EYES


Students often wonder if they should remove their glasses when using a microscope. If you are nearsighted or far-
sighted, there is no need to wear your glasses. The focus adjustments will compensate. If you have astigmatism,
however, you should wear your glasses because microscope lenses do not correct for this problem.
PROCEDURE 1: Introduction to the Microscope and its Parts
1) Go to http://www.ncbionetwork.org/iet/microscope/.
2) Click on the Guide link (bottom of the home page).
3) Click through the six parts of the Guide, starting with the Introduction. You can use the arrows at the bottom
of the Guide box to guide you through the chapters.
4) When you have completed all six sections, click Close.
5) Next click on the Learn link (bottom of the page), which will take you to an image of a microscope with ques-
tion marks.
6) Starting at the top of the microscope, click on the question mark identifying the part of the microscope.
7) Read the description of the part of the microscope and take notes as needed.
8) Continue clicking on question marks until all turn to green check marks.
a) Do not forget to click on the question marks for items associated with the microscope.
b) You may click on any green check mark to review any part of the microscope.
c) Use the checklist below to ensure all parts have been identified.
9) Click on the Next button (bottom right).
10) Start on the left and click on the question mark. When the lens enlarges, click on each question mark, read
the description and take notes as needed. The question mark should turn into a green check mark.
11) Click on the Next button (bottom right).
12) Click on the Dry Slide and Oiled Slide buttons to see the difference in why immersion oil is used for the 100X
objective lens.
13) Click on the Next button (bottom right).
14) Click on the Eyepiece Options and Lens Options to learn about calculating total magnification. Try all
combinations and see how the Letter E slide image changes.
15) Click on the Next button (bottom right) to return to the home page.
16) Answer the provided questions.

*Be aware! Depending on its age, manufacturer, and cost, in a laboratory a compound microscope may have only some of the features
discussed in this section.
MICROSCOPE PARTS
Identify all parts of the microscope and associated items.

___ On/ Off switch ___ Eyepiece/ Ocular lens

F
___ Arm F___ Nosepiece

G
___ Objective lenses D
___ Stage

H
___ Diaphragm

M
___ Base
E
___ Stage adjustment knob

___ Coarse adjustment knob


00800
A
___ Lens paper

B
___ Immersion oil
FP
___ Fine adjustment knob

___ Slide/ slide box


00
80 O
___ Kimwipes

QUESTIONS
1) What is the proper way to carry a microscope?

2) What is the typical magnification of an ocular lens? What other magnifications are possible?

3) What are the magnification abilities of each of the objective lenses?


a) Scanning ( small lens ), red ring =
b) Low-power ( medium lens ), yellow ring =
c) High-power ( large lens ), blue ring =
d) Oil immersion ( largest lens ), white ring =

4) Why do you use immersion oil with 100X objective lens?

5) What is the total magnification of a sample with an ocular lens power of 15X and using a 40X objective lens?

6) What is a diaphragm? What does it do?


PROCEDURE 2: How to use a compound microscope to view slides
1) Click on the Explore link (bottom of the home page).
2) Click on the question mark on the slide box.
3) In the Slide Catalog, click on the Sample Slides.
4) Click on the Letter E slide. It will automatically be placed on the stage of the microscope.
5) When the Microscope View window opens, make sure that the 4X circle is highlighted in blue.
NOTE: Always begin examining slides with the lowest power objective.
6) Use the slider under Coarse Focus to find the E.
NOTE: The coarse adjustment knob should only be used when you are viewing a specimen with the 4X objective lens.
7) Then use the slider under Fine Focus to make the image “crisp and clear.”
8) You can click on the E in the viewing window to move the image and visualize different parts.
Sketch your view of the letter E at 4X in the results area.
9) Next click on the 10X circle. The nosepiece on the microscope will rotate automatically.
10) Repeat steps 6 – 8 to see part of the E. Sketch your view of the letter E at 10X in the results area.
11) Click on the 40X circle and repeat steps 7 & 8. You may need to use the slider under Light Adjustment for
better visualization. Sketch your view of the letter E at 40X in the results area.
12) Click on the 100X circle. A notice to add immersion oil will open.
13) Click on the question mark on the immersion oil bottles to add oil to the microscope.
14) Repeat steps 7 & 8. You may need to use the slider under Light Adjustment again for better
visualization. Sketch your view of the letter E at 100X in the results area.
15) When you have visualized the Letter E slide using all 4 objective lenses, click on Remove Slide (top right).
16) Read the notice about using lens paper to clean the immersion oil off the microscope and click
on the question mark over the lens paper. Choose wisely!
17) Click on the Main button ( bottom left corner ) to return to the home page.
RESULTS: Sketch the letter “e” at each of the resolutions

Letter “e” at 4X Letter “e” at 10X Letter “e” at 40X Letter “e” at 100X

QUESTIONS
1) What did you notice about the letter E when you increased in magnification from
the 4x to the 10x and then to the 40X:

a) Did the size (magnification) increase or decrease?

b) Could you see more of the entire letter or less?

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