Microscope Lab

Objective
1. We will learn how to use a light compound microscope.
2. We will learn the different parts of a light compound microscope.
3. We will learn how to use a dissecting microscope.
4. We will learn the different parts of a dissecting microscope.

Materials
● Light compound microscope
● Dissecting microscope
● Slides
● Kim-wipes
● Methylene Blue
● Methyl Red
● Lugol’s Solution
● Materials being observed
○ Eyelash
○ Snake skin
○ Cotton
○ Aloe Vera Gel
○ Cheek Cell

Method
Prior to the actual lab, in order to know what we were doing for it, we had to
sketch two microscopes which included the light compound microscope and the
dissecting microscope. Once we completed the sketches we had to label them.
After the sketching and labeling was done, we just had to look at the microscope
and learn their parts.
To actually begin the lab, get the microscope from the area they are located
and use one hand to grab the arm and the other hand to hold the base. first pick a
specimen to observe. If in any case the object didn’t look clear enough, adjust the
objective lense to try to get it as clear as possible or if the object wasn’t placed
well, use the coarse objective knob to move the stage up to try to improve the
quality.

Method: Cheek Cell

The first object that we underlooked through the microscope was the cheek
cell. We first began by volunteering a group member to scrape off cells from his
cheek, once the cells were collected, we had to add a drop of water on a slide and
mix them both together. We then had to cover the mixture with a slide and add an
additional drop but this time around it was of Methylene Blue. Once the dye was
added in, we had to grab a Kim-wipe and try to pull the specimens over to the
middle to get a clear view in the microscope.

Method: Prepared Slides

In order for us to prepare the slide, we first needed to pick our specimen that
we wanted to observe. To make sure we see the best results, we had to wipe down
the actual slide with a kim-wipe and then place the object on the clean slide. Once
that was done, we were ready to set it up under the microscope to take pictures of
the magnisized specimen for us to later draw the results on a sheet of paper.

Method: Dissecting Microscope

The first step for the dissecting microscope was to go grab the microscope
and then plug it into the outlet and then we needed to grab any slide from the
cotton to the aloe vera plant to get a closer look at it. After this we had to draw our
observation of the what we saw.Lastly we had any choice to get any insect we
wanted to see through the dissecting microscope so we grabbed some snakeskin
and drew our observation of that and that was it for the dissecting microscope.

Data
Light compound microscope
● Arm: ​Supports the tude and Connects it to the base.
● Eyepiece: ​contains a lense that magnifies about 10x
● Body tube: ​separates the eyepiece lens from the objective lens.
● Nosepiece: ​hold the lower-power and high-power objective lenses,
allows the lenses to rotate for viewing.
● Stage: ​supports the side being used.
● High-power objective lense: ​magnifies about 40x
● Low-power objective lense: ​magnifies about 10x
● Diaphragm: ​controls the amount of light passing through the opening
of the stage
● Mirror: ​reflects the light upward through the diaphragm
● Coarse adjustment knob: ​moves the body tube for focusing with the
low-power objective lens.
 ● Fine adjustment knob: ​moves the body tube for focusing for
high-power objective lense.
● Power switch: ​The main power switch that turns the illumination on
or off
● Stage clip: ​holds the slide in place
● Base: ​Provides basal support for the microscope.

2. Dissecting microscope
● Stage clips: ​Holds the slide in place.
● Stage plate: ​Specimens and objects are placed here to be viewed.
● Power button: ​Turns the microscope on and off.
● Eyepiece: ​Look through here to see specimen.
● Transmitted Illumination Control: ​Most specimens that are
examined are opaque, the transmitted illumination control is used to
shed extra light on the compound.
● Focus control: ​Adjusts the focus
● Objective lenses: ​Objective lenses are the lenses that allow to see the
● Zoom control: ​Changes the objective lenses
● Incident Illumination Control: ​Provides additional light to a
compound from the bottom of the microscope
● Upper Illumination Control: ​Allows observing opaque non
transparent objects in reflected light
● Trinocular Port:​ A lense where you attach a microscope camera.
Cheek Cell:(400x)
Compound Microscope ( above pictures) (100x)
Dissecting Microscope ( below picture)

Analysis
1. When was the first microscope invented?
1590

2. Whatś the highest magnification of the compound microscope you will be

using?
400x

3. What is the difference between a dissecting microscope and a light

compound microscope?
 Dissecting microscope uses transmitted and reflected light so there won't be
shadows on the 3D subjects.
Light compound microscope uses only transmitted light.

4. How should you always carry a microscope?

One hand holding the arm of the microscope, the other hand holding the
bottom of the microscope.

5. Our light compound microscopes are monocular microscopes. What is the

difference between a monocular and a binocular microscope?
Monocular microscope allows you to only use one eye when looking at
samples, whereas binocular microscopes, let you use both eyes.

6. Where do the objective lenses get their name?

Objective lenses get their name from the variations of distance. An example
is the scanning objective lense, which is 4x.

7. Why should you never begin a specimen observation with the high power
objective lens?
Never begin with the high power objective lens because it could potentially
break the plate with the specimen on it.

8. What were the major differences between the cheek cells and onion cells?
N/A

9. Suppose a student is having a difficult time seeing a specimen under the high
power objective. What could be some of the possible problems?
Depending on how big the specimen is, the high power objective lens could
be the wrong one.

10.If you wanted to see a fly under the compound microscope, why would you
have difficulties?----- You will have difficulties because the fly is too big for
 the microscope to focus on the fly so it wouldn't focus on the fly besides a
cheek cell where you will see it because it’s a small layer.

Conclusion:
1. What was the most challenging part about using a microscope?
The most challenging part of this lab was to remember to use the coarse
knob to adjust the stage.

2. Explain how to properly put a microscope away.

After you’re done using the microscope, put the cover back over the
microscope. Then put one hand under the base of the microscope, and the
other hold the arm. Then put the microscope in the area designated for that
microscope.

3. Explain how a wet mount is made.

First, we were supposed to add a drop of water with a plastic pipette onto a
slide and have someone volunteer to donate their cheek cells (Daniel had to
bite the sides of his cheeks and collect pieces with a coffee stirrer and place
it in the water droplet. Next, we had to use a slide cover to cover the water
and cheek cells. Third, we had to add a droplet of Methylene blue on any
side of the slide cover. As soon as we added the blue, we had to get half of a
Kimwipe to absorb the liquids on one side.

4. Do you feel you are able to use a microscope proficiently, yes or no, why?
I think that collectively as a group we all can use a microscope proficiently
because we all took turns to use the microscope.

5. What was the best part of this lab, and what would you change about this
lab to make it better for next year’s students?
The best part of this lab was having the choice to observe what we wanted
to. I wouldn’t change anything about this lab because everything we had to
do was self explanatory.