The Microscope

The Microscope is a delicate, expensive instrument. To derive maximum benefit from it

with the greatest degree of safety, you need to learn how to use it correctly. To move the
microscope, lift it by the arm with the other hand under the base (carry it with both hands
at all times)
To use the microscope correctly, follow these steps:
1. Swing the low power objective into position over the slide.
2. Adjust the light to travel through the diaphragm and into the objective lens
3. Move the stage all the way down
4. Place the slide on the stage with the object in the center of the hole on the
stage
5. Using the coarse adjustment (large knob) move the stage up as far as you can
(remember you MUST have it on low power or you will break the slide)
6. Slowly lower the stage with the coarse adjustment until the object comes into
focus
7. Now use the fine adjustment (smaller knob) to make the object more clearly
visable (on the higher power objectives ONLY use the fine adjustment)

As you change powers with the objectives notice how the object increases in size. As it
does this the field of vision (the actual area that you can see) gets smaller

Microscope Magnification:
Observe the numbers marked on the ocular eyepiece and on the objectives (the numbers
with an X with them) Total magnification for that objective is the product of those two
numbers
Total magnification for low power would be ____________ times

Total magnification for medium power would be __________ times

Total magnification for high power would be ____________ times

The Letter e
Cut the letter e from this paper and mount it on a slide with a drop of water and cover
slip. Locate the e under low power and center it. Notice in what direction the letter is on
the slide compared to how it was when you look at it under the microscope. Is the letter
right side up, reversed or upside down? _____________________________
Move a slide a bit to the left, in what direction does it move under the microscope?
_______________________
Move the slide towards your body, what direction does the letter move under the
microscope? ______________________
Circle the amount of letter you can see under each magnification

4X 10X 40X

e e e e
e
e
e

Newspaper photo’s
Cut out a small piece of a color picture from a newspaper and make a wet mount. Focus
under low power and count the number of color splotches you can see ______________
Now do the same under medium power __________________
And finally on High power _____________________ (you may want to estimate for
these)
What is the ratio of the number of splotches you can see comparing high power and low
power ___________ to ______________

Field of Vision
Place a metric ruler on the stage and measure in millimeters the diameter of the low
power field of vision. Convert your reading to microns (1mm = 1000 microns)

Diameter of low power ___________

Diameter of medium power ___________

Diameter of high power ___________

Tracking an object
Now get a concave slide and place a drop of pond water in the depression of the slide.
Focus in starting with low power again and try to find objects moving around in the
water. Move your slide trying to follow them, this is harder than it sounds!!!!!
Draw the path that your “creature” took around the slide below.