This document provides instructions for a lab activity on basic microscopy. It describes the parts of a compound light microscope and how to properly handle and use one. The objectives of the lab are to learn how to use a microscope correctly, determine total magnification, and observe prepared slides. Students are instructed to observe a letter "e" at different magnifications under the microscope and answer analysis questions.
This document provides instructions for a lab activity on basic microscopy. It describes the parts of a compound light microscope and how to properly handle and use one. The objectives of the lab are to learn how to use a microscope correctly, determine total magnification, and observe prepared slides. Students are instructed to observe a letter "e" at different magnifications under the microscope and answer analysis questions.
This document provides instructions for a lab activity on basic microscopy. It describes the parts of a compound light microscope and how to properly handle and use one. The objectives of the lab are to learn how to use a microscope correctly, determine total magnification, and observe prepared slides. Students are instructed to observe a letter "e" at different magnifications under the microscope and answer analysis questions.
This document provides instructions for a lab activity on basic microscopy. It describes the parts of a compound light microscope and how to properly handle and use one. The objectives of the lab are to learn how to use a microscope correctly, determine total magnification, and observe prepared slides. Students are instructed to observe a letter "e" at different magnifications under the microscope and answer analysis questions.
Instructions: Read the following notes and answer the questions provided
Introduction "Micro" refers to tiny, "scope" refers to view or look at. Microscopes are tools used to enlarge images of small objects so as they can be studied. The compound light microscope is an instrument containing two lenses, which magnifies, and a variety of knobs to resolve (focus) the picture. Because it uses more than one lens, it is sometimes called the compound microscope in addition to being referred to as being a light microscope. In this lab, we will learn about the proper use and handling of the microscope.
Instructional Objectives
Explain how to properly handle the microscope;
Determine the total magnification of the microscope; Demonstrate the proper procedures used in correctly using the compound light microscope. Prepare and use a wet mount. Observe prepared slides and compute for the magnification
Materials
Compound microscope Glass slides Cover slips Eye dropper Beaker of water The letter "e" cut from newsprint Scissors 3 pieces of colored string (red, white, blue) I. How to use a Microscope
The type of microscope you will most likely be using is a compound light microscope. This type of microscope uses multiple lenses, one near the object and one (or a few) in the eyepiece, to magnify the object you are observing.
Microscopes are incredibly helpful tools for scientists, but there are a few things you should know about microscopes before you begin using them.
A. Microscope Handling 1. Carry the microscope with both hands --- one on the arm and the other under the base of the microscope. 2. One person from each group will now go over to the microscope storage area and properly transport one microscope to your working area. 3. The other person in the group will pick up a pair of scissors, newsprint, a slide, and a cover slip. 4. Remove the dust cover and store it properly. Plug in the scope. Do not turn it on until told to do so. 5. Examine the microscope and give the function of each of the parts listed on the right side of the diagram.
Parts of a Microscope The image below shows the parts of a microscope you should be familiar with.
Eyepiece: the part of the microscope you look through to observe your specimen (10x magnification)
Objectives: the lower lenses with different magnification levels (example: 4x, 10x, 40x)
Stage: where your slide is placed on the microscope
Focus knobs: The larger coarse focus knob allows you to quickly raise or lower the stage to bring the slide into view. The smaller fine focus knob allows you to bring your slide into clearer focus.
Light source: this allows your slide to be viewed in the eyepiece. The light is bent or refracted by the lenses to magnify the object you are viewing. The level of light intensity can be adjusted using the illumination intensity wheel on the base of the microscope.
Frame: the ‘backbone’ of the microscope
Base: This is the sturdiest portion of the microscope. For this reason a microscope should always be carried with one hand under the base and one hand around the frame.
B. Magnification Your microscope will generally have three or four magnification levels (objectives). In addition to the objective magnification, the ocular lens in the eyepiece has a magnification level of 10x. To get the total magnification level you must multiply the magnification of the ocular lens by the magnification of the objective lens. So, if you are viewing your slide under the 40x objective lens you would multiply that by the 10x of the ocular lens for a total magnification of 400x.
Objective Lens Ocular Lens Total Magnification
4x 10x 40x
10x 10x 100x
40x 10x 400x
C. General Procedures 1. Carry your microscope by the base and frame to your desk. 2. Plug in your microscope and turn on the light. 3. Place your slide on the stage and using the lowest power objective lens, slowly turn the coarse focus knob until you start to see the specimen on the slide come into focus (at this step, what you see will still be blurry, the goal is just to bring your specimen into better view before really focusing in on it). You may need to move the slide around in order to begin to see your specimen. 4. Now use the fine focus knob to bring your specimen into perfect focus. If you are sharing your microscope with other students, each student will use the fine focus knob to focus the specimen best for their eyes. 5. Once you have your slide in focus on the lowest magnification level, you can switch to the next highest objective lens. You may need to re-focus slightly with the fine focus knob. 6. Repeat this focusing process until you have reached the objective lens you want to use to inspect your specimen. 7. If the image of your slide seems too dark or bright to see anything, try adjusting the light intensity. 8. When you are done with your microscope be sure to lower the stage as far as it will go and switch back to the lowest objective. Unplug your microscope and carry it properly back to storage. Name:___________________________________________________ Date:________________________________ Grade & Section:________________________________________Score:_________________________________
LAB ACTIVITY # 1 - BASIC MICROSCOPY WORKSHEET
Instructions: Read the following notes and answer the questions provided.
A. PARTS OF A MICROSCOPE. Fill in the blanks on this diagram and hand this page to your teacher before checking out your microscope for today’s activity. B. Determining Total Magnification: 1. Locate the numbers on the eyepiece and the low power objective and fill in the blanks below.
Eyepiece magnification Objective magnification Total Magnification
PROCEDURE 1. Cut out the letter “e” and place it on the slide face up.
2. Add a drop of water to the slide.
3. Place the coverslip on top of the “e” and drop of water at a 45-degree angle and lower. Draw what is on the slide in Figure1. 4. Place the slide on the stage and view in low power (4x). Center the “e” in your field of view. Draw what you see in Figure 2.
5. Move the slide to the left, what happens? Move the slide to the right, what happens? Up? Down?
6. View the specimen in high power . Use the fine adjustment only to focus
D. DRAWING AND OBSERVATION:
Figure 1: Drawing of the letter “e” on the slide Figure 2: Drawing of the letter “e” using LPO (actual size) Total Magnification:______ . Figure 3: Drawing of Letter “e” using HPO
Total Magnification:____________________
Figure 1: Drawing of thread on the slide Figure 2: Drawing of the thread using LPO (actual size) Total Magnification:______ .
Figure 3: Drawing of the thread using HPO
Total Magnification:____________________ ANALYSIS: 1. How does the letter “e” as seen through the microscope differ from the way an “e” normally appears? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 2. When you move the slide to the left, in what direction does the letter “e” appear to move? When you move it to the right? Up? Down? ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 3. How does the ink appear under the microscope compared to normal view? ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Why does a specimen placed under the microscope have to be thin? ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________
