Units and Magnification

Part 1: Units of measurement

o M0.1 - Recognise and make use of appropriate units in calculations
o

M1.8 - Make order of magnitude calculations

1) Complete the diagram below to show: names of the units of measurement, unit
symbols, mathematical operations for converting between units.

A few rules
If you are going from a larger value, i.e. mm, to a smaller value, i.e. m, you
_____________________
If you are going from a smaller value, i.e. m, to a larger value, i.e. mm, you
_____________________

2) Fill in the table to show the relationships between each value

Unit

Centimet
re
Millimetr
e

Symb
ol
m
cm

0.01

Fraction of a meter
One
One hundredth

0.001
m

Nanomet
er

Equivalent of a
meter

0.000001
One thousand millionth

3) Complete the table below to show the corresponding value nanometres,

micrometres and millimetres for the measurements given in each row. The first row
has been completed for you. Ensure that your answers use the correct unit
symbols.
Nanometre
Micrometre
Millimetre
5

0.005

0.000005

1
1
1
3
7
0.5

4) A bit on magnification, complete the table below

Eyepiece
Magnification

Objective Magnification

X10

X4

X10

X10

X10

X40

X10

X100

Overall Magnification

Part 2: About the I AM triangle

o
o
o
o

M2.2- Change the subject of an equation

M2.3 Substitute numerical values into algebraic equations using appropriate units for physical
quantities
M2.4 Solve algebraic equations
M1.8 - Make order of magnitude calculations

1) Fill in the triangle below, stating what each letter stands for:

I=

..

A=

..

2) Rewrite the equation to show each as the subject

I=

M=
.

A=
M=

Part 3: Using the I AM triangle on micrographs and microscope drawings

1) Write out the procedure for using the I AM triangle
.

2) Calculating Actual size

Using the image below, give the actual length of the squamous epithelial cell in
m.

Step 1: Write out triangle

equation I will use

Step 2: Write out the values you know

Step 3: The

I=
A=
M=
(include units)

Step 4: Unit check, do they match? Convert if not

and calculate

Step 5: Input

Step 6: Convert if needed to, avoid answers with lots of decimal places

Final Answer: ..

3) Calculating M when given I and A

Using the image below, give the magnification when the actual length of the
measured cell is 250 m

Step 1: Write out triangle

equation I will use

Step 2: Write out the values you know

Step 3: The

I=
A=
M=
(include units)

Step 4: Unit check, do they match? Convert if not

Input and calculate

Step 5:

Step 6: Convert if needed to, avoid answers with lots of decimal places

Final Answer:
..

4) Calculating M from a scale bar

Using a ruler to work out the Image size of the scale bar, work out the
magnification of this image.

Step 1: Write out triangle

equation I will use

Step 2: Write out the values you know

Step 3: The

I=
A=
M=
(include units)

Step 4: Unit check, do they match? Convert if not

Input and calculate

Step 5:

Step 6: Convert if needed to, avoid answers with lots of decimal places

Final Answer:
..

Part 4: Practice makes perfect

1) The diagram below shows the general structure of an animal cell as seen under
an electron microscope.

5m
_________
a) Calculate the magnification factor of the diagram

b) Calculate the length of structure G

c) Calculate the diameter of the nucleolus (structure B)

d) Calculate the diameter of the nucleus

e) Calculate the diameter of the cell at its widest point

2) The diagram below shows the general structure of a plant cell when viewed
under and electron microscope.

40m
___________
a) Calculate the magnification factor of the diagram

b) Calculate the thickness of the cellulose cell wall.

c) Calculate the length of the cell.

d) Calculate the length of structure C.

e) Calculate the length of the vacuole.

Exam Questions

2.

A red blood cell is 8 m in diameter. If drawn 100 times larger than its actual
size, what diameter will the drawing be in mm?
A.

0.08 mm

B.

0.8 mm

C.

8 mm

D.

80 mm
(Total 1 mark)

5.

If a mitochondrion has a length of 5 m and a students drawing of the

mitochondrion is 10 mm, what is the magnification of the drawing?

A.

0.0005

B.

0.5

C.

200

D.

2000
(Total 1 mark)

Part 5: Graticules
1) Outline how you would calibrate an eyepiece graticule using a stage graticule
.

2) Complete the table

Magnificati
on of
Ocular
Lens
X 10
X 10
X 10
X 10

Magnification
of objective
lens

Total
Magnificati
on

X4
X10
X40
X100 (oil
immersion)

X40
X100
X400
X1000

Value of one
eyepiece
division (m)