Parts of the Microscope & Their Functions
Click on each flag/pointer thingy to see a description of what that part does.
Low Power
Medium Power
High Power Objective (Lens)
Objective lenses: There are usually 3-5 optical lens objectives on a compound microscope each with different magnification levels. 4x, 10x, 40x, and 100x are the most common magnifying powers used for the objectives. The total magnification of a compound microscope is calculated by multiplying the objective lens magnification by the eyepiece magnification level. So, a compound microscope with a 10x eyepiece magnification looking through the 40x objective lens has a total magnification of 400x (10 x 40).
The high power lens is used last to zoom in on the center of the field of view.
Course Adjustment Knob
Adjusts the focus of the microscope. These knobs increase or decrease the level of detail seen when looking at the slide or specimen through the eyepiece of the compound microscope.
Primarily used with the low power lens;should NEVER be used with the high power lens.
Body Tube
connects the eyepiece to the objective lens
Eye Piece
Eyepiece (ocular lens) with or without Pointer: The part that is looked through at the top of the compound microscope. Eyepieces typically have a magnification between 5x & 30x.
Stage Clips
hold the specimen slide in place on the stage
Base
Bottom base of the microscope that houses the illumination & supports the compound microscope.
Light Source
Light used to illuminate the slide or specimen from the base of the microscope. Low voltage halogen bulbs are the most commonly used source of illumination for compound microscopes. Non-electric microscopes would use a mirror to reflect sunlight up through the aperture; not fun on a cloudy day or a super bright one either.
Stage or Platform
The platform upon which the specimen or slide are placed. The height of the mechanical stage is adjustable on most compound microscopes (usually by turning the coarse adjustment knob)
Diaphragm or Aperture
Circular opening in the stage where the illumination from the base of the compound microscope reaches the platform of the stage. There is an adjustment wheel that can be turned to change the size of the opening and thus change the amount of illumination. Typically, we don't want you to mess with this.
Fine Adjustment Knob
Adjusts the focus of the microscope. These knobs increase or decrease the level of detail seen when looking at the slide or specimen through the eyepiece of the compound microscope.
Primarily used with the medium & high power lenses;ALWAYS used with the high power lens.
Arm
Supports the microscope head and attaches it to the base.
Nose Piece
Holds the objective lenses & attaches them to the microscope head. This part rotates to change which objective lens is active.
Low Power Objective (Lens)
Objective lenses: There are usually 3-5 optical lens objectives on a compound microscope each with different magnification levels. 4x, 10x, 40x, and 100x are the most common magnifying powers used for the objectives. The total magnification of a compound microscope is calculated by multiplying the objective lens magnification by the eyepiece magnification level. So, a compound microscope with a 10x eyepiece magnification looking through the 40x objective lens has a total magnification of 400x (10 x 40).
The low power lens is used first to locate and center the specimen in the field of view.
Medium Power Objective (Lens)
Objective lenses: There are usually 3-5 optical lens objectives on a compound microscope each with different magnification levels. 4x, 10x, 40x, and 100x are the most common magnifying powers used for the objectives. The total magnification of a compound microscope is calculated by multiplying the objective lens magnification by the eyepiece magnification level. So, a compound microscope with a 10x eyepiece magnification looking through the 40x objective lens has a total magnification of 400x (10 x 40).
The medium power lens is used second to locate and center the specimen in the field of view and will zoom in on the center of the field of view.
Parts of the Microscope
Kelly Patelunas
Created on June 28, 2023
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Transcript
Parts of the Microscope & Their Functions
Click on each flag/pointer thingy to see a description of what that part does.
Low Power
Medium Power
High Power Objective (Lens)
Objective lenses: There are usually 3-5 optical lens objectives on a compound microscope each with different magnification levels. 4x, 10x, 40x, and 100x are the most common magnifying powers used for the objectives. The total magnification of a compound microscope is calculated by multiplying the objective lens magnification by the eyepiece magnification level. So, a compound microscope with a 10x eyepiece magnification looking through the 40x objective lens has a total magnification of 400x (10 x 40).
The high power lens is used last to zoom in on the center of the field of view.
Course Adjustment Knob
Adjusts the focus of the microscope. These knobs increase or decrease the level of detail seen when looking at the slide or specimen through the eyepiece of the compound microscope.
Primarily used with the low power lens;should NEVER be used with the high power lens.
Body Tube
connects the eyepiece to the objective lens
Eye Piece
Eyepiece (ocular lens) with or without Pointer: The part that is looked through at the top of the compound microscope. Eyepieces typically have a magnification between 5x & 30x.
Stage Clips
hold the specimen slide in place on the stage
Base
Bottom base of the microscope that houses the illumination & supports the compound microscope.
Light Source
Light used to illuminate the slide or specimen from the base of the microscope. Low voltage halogen bulbs are the most commonly used source of illumination for compound microscopes. Non-electric microscopes would use a mirror to reflect sunlight up through the aperture; not fun on a cloudy day or a super bright one either.
Stage or Platform
The platform upon which the specimen or slide are placed. The height of the mechanical stage is adjustable on most compound microscopes (usually by turning the coarse adjustment knob)
Diaphragm or Aperture
Circular opening in the stage where the illumination from the base of the compound microscope reaches the platform of the stage. There is an adjustment wheel that can be turned to change the size of the opening and thus change the amount of illumination. Typically, we don't want you to mess with this.
Fine Adjustment Knob
Adjusts the focus of the microscope. These knobs increase or decrease the level of detail seen when looking at the slide or specimen through the eyepiece of the compound microscope.
Primarily used with the medium & high power lenses;ALWAYS used with the high power lens.
Arm
Supports the microscope head and attaches it to the base.
Nose Piece
Holds the objective lenses & attaches them to the microscope head. This part rotates to change which objective lens is active.
Low Power Objective (Lens)
Objective lenses: There are usually 3-5 optical lens objectives on a compound microscope each with different magnification levels. 4x, 10x, 40x, and 100x are the most common magnifying powers used for the objectives. The total magnification of a compound microscope is calculated by multiplying the objective lens magnification by the eyepiece magnification level. So, a compound microscope with a 10x eyepiece magnification looking through the 40x objective lens has a total magnification of 400x (10 x 40).
The low power lens is used first to locate and center the specimen in the field of view.
Medium Power Objective (Lens)
Objective lenses: There are usually 3-5 optical lens objectives on a compound microscope each with different magnification levels. 4x, 10x, 40x, and 100x are the most common magnifying powers used for the objectives. The total magnification of a compound microscope is calculated by multiplying the objective lens magnification by the eyepiece magnification level. So, a compound microscope with a 10x eyepiece magnification looking through the 40x objective lens has a total magnification of 400x (10 x 40).
The medium power lens is used second to locate and center the specimen in the field of view and will zoom in on the center of the field of view.