Parts of Microscopes

6th Grade Science

Intro to
Microscopes
Barbara Bloemers
Michigan Benchmarks
Or Why Do I Have to Know This?
 Microscope
One of the most important
tools used to study living
things.

“Micro” means very small

“Scope” means to look at

Diagram of a typical student light microscope,

showing the parts and the light path
 Test Your Knowledge
#1

The word “microscope” means:

A. Glass eye
B. Small ~ to look at
C. To search for
 You are Correct!
The word “microscope” means
VERY SMALL ~ TO LOOK AT
 Oops!
Micro means “very small”

Scope means “to look at”

What do you think microphone might

mean?
Basic Microscope Parts
1. Base
2. Light source
3. Diaphragm
4. Stage
5. Stage clips
6. Low power
7. High power
8. Nosepiece
9. Arm
10. Fine Focus
11. Body Tube
12. Course Focus
13. Eyepiece
 Guess What?
We will now look at the 13 major parts of the
microscope and what their functions are that
enable us to see very small things.
Introducing the Arm and
Base

Arm
Supports the body tube. Used
to carry the microscope.
Base
Bottom part of the microscope
often shaped like a horseshoe.
Click on the ARM
Click on the Base
Stage and Stage Clips

Stage
Place where the object
you are looking at is
placed (Specimen).
Stage Clips
Holds down the slide
on the stage.
Test your Knowledge
#2
Can you name it?
Click on correct name

#1 Leg or Arm

#2 Stage or Table

#3 Base or Place
 Great!!
The ARM supports the BODY TUBE and is used to
carry the microscope.
Super!!!
The STAGE is the name
given to where you would
place the slide with the
object you wish to view
more closely.
 Awesome !!
You are right. The BASE is located at the
bottom and supports the microscope.
Oops! Let’s Try Again
 Eyepiece (Ocular Lens)
and Body Tube
Eyepiece
The lens you look through that
magnifies the specimen.

Body Tube
The hollow tube through which
light passes. It holds the lenses
apart.
Click on the Eyepiece
Click on the Body Tube
Course and Fine Focus

Course Focus
Raises or lowers the Body
Tube to focus
Fine Focus
Raises and lowers the
Body Tube and used to
bring objects into focus.
Click on the Course and
Fine Focus Knobs
 Test your Knowledge
#3

Click on correct name:

Scope or Eyepiece

Body Tube or Pipe

Control or Fine Focus

 Nice Job
Wow! You are Correct!
The EYEPIECE OR OCULAR LENS is the
lens that you look through that magnifies
the specimen.
 Wow
You are Correct!
The BODY TUBE is the hollow tube
through which light passes.
 Yes!!!
The Course/Fine Focus raises and lowers the
Body Tube. It is used to bring things into focus.
 Oops!!
Try Again
 Nosepiece

The NOSEPIECE is
the round part that
holds the OBJECTIVE
LENSES apart.
 Low Power/High Power
Objective Lenses

Low Power Objective

Magnifies the specimen at a
lower power
High Power Objective
Magnifies the specimen at a
Higher power
Click on the Nosepiece
Click on the Objective
Lenses
Diaphragm and
Light Source
Diaphragm
Changes the amount of light
reaching the objective lenses.
Located under the Stage.
Light Source
Located beneath the Stage
and Diaphragm. Sends light
towards the hole in the stage.
Click on the Diaphragm
Click on the Light
Source
 Test Your Knowledge
#4
Can you name it?
Click on the correct part

4. Ears or Nosepiece

5. Objective or Scope
Lens

6. Diaphragm or Throat
 Super Dooper
The NOSEPIECE hold the OBJECTIVE LENSES apart.
 Doing Great
The microscope has several OBJECTIVE
LENSES. Each lens has a different
magnification power.
 Correct Again
The DIAPHRAGM
regulates the amount
of light that reaches the
objective lens.
It is located at the bottom
of the microscope.
Try Again
Check the diagram
Great Job!
Well Done
Now that we have
learned the parts let’s
see how we can use
the microscope.
Using the Microscope in
10 Steps
Follow these instructions when using the
microscope. Click on each underlined word.

1. To carry the microscope, grasp the

ARM with one hand. Hold the BASE with
your other hand.
 10 Steps to
Using the Microscope
2. Adjust the DIAPHRAGM while looking
through the EYEPIECE.

3. Adjust the LIGHT SOURCE (mirror) until

you see the circle of light.
 10 Steps to
Using the Microscope
4. Place the slide on the STAGE.

5. Center the SPECIMEN over the small

opening on the STAGE.

6. Secure the slide with the STAGE CLIPS.

 10 Steps to
Using the Microscope
7. While looking at the STAGE from the side,
turn the COURSE FOCUS KNOB to lower
the BODY TUBE until the LOW POWER
OBJECTIVE almost touches the slide.
 10 Steps to
Using the Microscope
8. While looking through the EYEPIECE, carefully
move the COURSE FOCUS KNOB until the
specimen comes into view.

9. To switch to the HIGH POWER OBJECTIVE

LENS, look at the microscope from the side.
 10 Steps to
Using the Microscope
10. Move the NOSEPIECE until the HIGH POWER
OBJECTIVE LENS “clicks” into place. If the
lens hits the slide, the slide and/or lens might
break.
Turn the FINE FOCUS KNOB until the
specimen comes into focus.
Specimen
EYEPIECE
EYEPIECE
BODY TUBE
ARM
STAGE CLIPS
COURSE FOCUS
COURSE FOCUS
BASE
NOSEPIECE
 HIGH POWER
OBJECTIVE LENS
 HIGH POWER
OBJECTIVE LENS
 LOW POWER
OBJECTIVE LENS
STAGE
STAGE
DIAPHRAGM
LIGHT SOURCE
FINE FOCUS KNOB
Microscope Examples
 Interesting Things to
See Using Microscopes
Onion Skin Cheek Cell

Red Blood Cells Skin Cell

 Interesting Fact
This is an antique
German microscope
made in the mid 1920’s.
 Antique Microscope
Web Site
After completing assignment
come back to link to an
interesting web site on
antique microscopes.

http://www.arsmachina.com/micro_
1.htm

This image was obtained from the Molecular Expressions website.

Additional Reading

There are many interesting

resources for you to
research on this topic.
Here are just a few books.
 Congratulations!!

Certificate
of Completion.
You did a really
great job!

For cool information on How a Microscope Works go to:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/light-microscope1.htm