Ira Espina 2-S Group #1 Microscope #2

July 9, 2012 July 16, 2012

Comparing Compound Light Microscope and Stereomicroscope Problem: How does the magnification of a microscope affect the working distance of a microscope? Hypothesis: If the magnification of a microscope increases, then the working distance of a microscope decreases. Objectives: To find out the differences of compound light microscopes and stereomicroscopes To see the effect of magnification to working distance in a microscope.

Data and Observations: (refer to the data sheet attached) Discussion and Analysis: The working distance of a microscope is how far the lens of a microscope is from the top of the sample it is observing. Between the two microscopes we used, the stereomicroscope had more working distance than the compound light microscope. Larger or solid objects can be observed better with a stereomicroscope while smaller samples are for compound light microscopes. This is because the working distance is more for a stereomicroscope and less for a compound light microscope. There is more space to view the larger objects for the stereomicroscope while there is not much space to put a large object in it. That is why slides with small samples are used for compound light microscope. The field of view of a microscope is the diameter of the circle of light seen when looking through a microscope. Opaque objects are impossible to view under a compound light microscope because the compound light microscopes light is transmitted through an object and since the object is opaque, the light would not be able to go through. You will not see anything. Opaque objects are easily viewed by stereomicroscopes because stereomicroscopes use reflective light to view objects thus giving a good view. You will see the object well. The compound light microscope gives us an inverted view of the sample we are observing. If you move the slide upwards then your view of the specimen will go downwards, and vice-versa. If you move the slide to the right then the view of your specimen will go to the left, and vice-versa.

The stereomicroscope gives us a similar unchanged view of an object. If you move your sample upwards then it goes upwards too. This is the same for all directions. A stereomicroscope has two main advantages while only having one main disadvantage. A stereomicroscope allows us to see the colour of an object and requires very little sample preparation which can help a scientist a lot. The stereomicroscope, though, uses less magnification thus making it very hard to view cells and nearly impossible to view organelles in cells. A compound light microscope has one main advantage and one main disadvantage. A compound light microscope uses more magnification thus allowing people to view very small samples using it. The compound light microscope, though, needs more time for sample preparation which can really be a time-eater for a scientist. Stereomicroscopes have 3D view because there are two eyepieces. The two eyepieces give us multiple viewpoint angles to the object thus appearing threedimensional. All three threads are focused in the LPO while only one is focused on the HPO. Its harder to focus the specimen at HPO because the HPO has higher magnification thus giving us less field-of-view and leading to less depth-of-field. As the magnification increases, the depth of field decreases. This is because as the magnification increases the field of view decreases. As the field of view decreases the depth of field also decreases. Therefore, as the magnification increases, the depth of field decreases. Conclusion: The magnification of a microscope does affect the working distance of a microscope. If the magnification increases, then the working distance decreases. This can be seen with the magnification to the LPO and HPO to their working distances. The LPO has a magnification of 10X while having the working distance of 5.3 mm. The HPO has a magnification of 40X while having the working distance of 2.7 mm. These results clearly show that the magnification really does affect the working distance. Reflection: Microscopy is similar to how I look at life. In microscopy you must observe and view the smallest things to find out discoveries that could change the world. Life is similar for me because I always tend to observe and look at the smallest things to quench my thirst for knowledge and to satisfy my curiosity. One example is how I answer examinations. I clearly look at each question and try to figure out the answer to it. I am magnifying the question in my brain to find out the answer that could basically change the score of my exam. .

Try this further:

Type of microscope Picture of microscope

Phase contrast microscope

Dark field microscope

Transmission microscope

Scanning Electron microscope

Magnification power Type of specimens used in the microscopes Function of microscope

100X-400X Biological tissues

100X-400X Specimens that dont absorb light or are transparent To block off the light source so the light scatters as it hits the specimen Specimens are clearer

100X500,000X Usually Bacteria

15X 200,000X Usually Bacteria

Alters light waves

To look at really small specimens

To look at really small specimens

Advantages

Disadvantages

Able to show components of cells not seen by other types of microscopes Images of Low specimen may magnification be distorted due to the light that surrounds the specimens under this microscope

High magnification

High magnification

Expensive

Expensive

Sources: 1. http://www.microscope-microscope.org/basic/microscope-glossary.htm 2. http://www.microbehunter.com/2008/12/23/types-of-light-microscopes/ 3. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/dissecting-microscope-vs-compoundmicroscope.html 4. http://www.seoenterprises.com/shop/product.php?productid=16205 5. http://www.supplierlist.com/product_view/wzalltion/107142/101105/UpRight_Bright_Dark_Field_Metallurgical_Microscope.htm 6. http://www.phy.cuhk.edu.hk/centrallaboratory/TecnaiF20/TecnaiF20.html 7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scanning_electron_microscope 8. http://www.microscopemaster.com/dark-field-microscope.html 9. http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/physics/microscopes/phase/