A microscope is an optical instrument used to view extremely small objects, which are difficult to be seen by the naked eye.
What are the different parts of a microscope?
The major parts of a microscope are the lenses, the tube, the arm, the illuminator, and the stage. Two kinds of lenses are used x96 eyepiece lens (ocular) and the objective lens. Both the lenses are connected using the tube. The place where the viewing object is placed is called the stage. The arm connects the stage and the lens. A microscope has two adjustment knobs, which help to focus the lenses.
How does a microscope work?
The object or the specimen is kept close to the objective lens, so that the light from it focuses around 160 mm inside the microscope. This creates an enlarged and inverted image of the object. The image is then directed straight into the eye with the help of the ocular or the eyepiece.
How to use a microscope?
Place the specimen on the microscope stage and fix it with stage clips. Turn the coarse focus knob to bring the objective lens close to the specimen. Then, adjust the illuminator and diaphragm by looking through the eyepiece. Slowly turn the adjustment knob, until the image is focused.
What are the different types of microscopes?
Basically, there are three types of microscopes: electron, confocal, and compound. Electron microscopes are sophisticated magnifying devices using a high energetic beam of electrons. They can be further classified as scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The confocal microscopes use a laser beam to illuminate the objects. Compound microscopes are the simplest type of microscopes. In this, the object or the specimen is illuminated using bulb light or light from the sun. Depending on specific applications, you can choose from portable student microscopes, surgical microscopes, metallurgical microscopes, measuring microscopes and industrial microscopes.
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Essential Parts of a Microscope
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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The basic design of the microscope has not changed that much over time. They have evolved, but the basic concept is still the same. There are several key parts that many types of microscopes have in common. All of the parts of a microscope must...
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The History of the Microscope
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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The first microscope was created hundreds of years ago. In the passing centuries, microscopes evolved into powerful, precise tools that allow scientists to view tiny objects at a level of detail that seems unreal. There are a wide array of available microscopes, from the compound...
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What are Compound Microscopes?
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Most of the microscopes used today are compound. A compound microscope features two or more lenses. A hollow cylinder called the tube connects the two lenses. The top lens, the one people look through, is called the eyepiece. The bottom lens is known as the...
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Types of Microscopes
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Microscopes range from the simple single lens microscope to the sophisticated ones with imaging systems. Microscopes differ on the basis of their resolution, magnification, illumination method, type of image, field of view, degree of automation etc. Depending on the radiation source, microscopes can be broadly...
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Light Microscopes
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Light microscopes or bright field microscopes are the most basic form of microscopes. The original light microscope was invented way back in the 16th century. They are so called because they use light in the visible spectrum to illuminate the specimen. Light microscopes are extensively...
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The Benefits of Video Microscopes
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Most video microscopes are quite different from conventional microscopes. A video microscope is usually larger than a conventional microscope and is often bolted to a table. The microscope has different lenses than normal microscopes also. Video microscopes are often designed for situations in which the...
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How Electron Microscopes Work
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Electron microscopes are among the most powerful magnifying tools on the planet. They use beams of electrons rather than conventional light to illuminate objects. The two main types of electron microscopes are transmission electron microscopes and scanning electron microscopes. Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll constructed...
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Inexpensive Microscopes
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Inexpensive microscopes are comparatively low priced, which makes the optical resolution facility feasible for every one. Inexpensive microscopes resemble primitive models of the microscope. They are the basic models of a microscope with only the essential requirements for an enlarged vision of the object. They...
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The Benefits of Stereo Microscopes
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Many people have trouble keeping one eye closed while peering through a microscope lens with the other eye. A stereo microscope eliminates the need to close one eye because it has two eyepieces. Stereo Microscopes have all of the features of conventional microscopes with some...
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Cheap Microscopes
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Cheap microscopes are microscopes which are made using cheap components like wood, plastic and low-quality metals. Most of these devices are handmade and are not used in clinical laboratories. Cheap microscopes have a low resolution and clarity. The magnification power of these equipments is usually...