Introduction to the

Microscope
Care
Parts
Focusing
• Always carry with 2 hands
• Only use lens paper for cleaning
• Do not force knobs
• Always store covered
• Keep objects clear of desk and cords
Parts of a Compound
Microscope

c om p ou n d
m i c r os c op e
 Eyepiece
Body Tube

Revolving Nosepiece
Arm
Objective Lens

Stage
Stage
Clips Coarse Focus
Diaphragm
Fine Focus
Light

Base
 Compound Microscope

• A microscope is a
very powerful
magnifying glass

• A microscope
helps you see
things like cells up
close
Eyepiece

• View the specimen

through the
eyepiece
 Stage Clips & Objectives
• Stage clips hold the
slide in place
• Low power objective
is used to focus the
microscope (short &
fat)
• High power objective
is used to view
details of a specimen
Coarse Adjustment, Fine
Adjustment, & Base
• Coarse adjustment
focuses adjustment
• Fine adjustment fine
tunes & gives detailed
focus(usually smaller
than coarse
adjustment knob)
• Base is where the
microscope rests
 Stage
• Stage is part
where the slide
rests
• Mirror (or light
source) directs
light upwards onto
the slide.
Diaphragm

• Diaphragm allows
light in
 Nosepiece

• Nosepiece is the
rotating device
that holds the
objectives (lenses)
Arm

• Arm is the part

where you carry
the microscope
Can you name the parts of a
compound microscope?
 Answers
• base
• mirror (light source)
• diaphragm
• stage
• stage clips
• low power objective lens
• high power objective lens
• nosepiece
• arm
• fine focus knob
• body tube
• coarse focus knob
• eyepiece
Types of Microscopes
 Light microscope
• (for small objects -
similar to the way
binoculars magnify
objects far away.)
 The Compound Light
Microscope

http://www.cas.muohio.edu/~mbi-ws/microscopes/compoundscope.html
• May have many lenses
that magnify the object
• Eyepiece = 10x
magnification
• Objective = 10x (low) or
40X (high)
•Total magnification=
•eyepiece X objective
•ex: 10x X 40x =
400x total
magnification
 Compound Light Microscope
• Powered by Light & Lenses
a) Powers of Magnification
• Ocular Lens= _________
• Low Power Objective= _______
• Medium Power Objective=
_______
• High Power Objective= _______
• Calculating Total
Magnification= ____________
b) Resolution
c) Parts
 Stereomicroscope
• To look at large things that light
cannot pass through (one eyepiece
for each eye)
 Stereomicroscopes

http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_3119600

http://www.martinmicroscope.com/MicroscopePages/Stereomicroscopes.htm
 Stereomicroscopes
•3 - D image
•can only magnify 10x
to 600x
Electron Microscope
• can magnify more
than 500,000x
 House Fly

• http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf/microangela/hfly.htm
• Place the Slide on the
Microscope
• Use Stage Clips
• Click Nosepiece to the lowest
(shortest) setting
• Look into the Eyepiece
• Use the Coarse Focus
• Follow steps to focus using low power
• Click the nosepiece to the longest objective
• Do NOT use the Coarse Focusing Knob
• Use the Fine Focus Knob to bring the slide
into focus

What can you find on your slide?