BIOLOGY - Microscope Calculations

Magnification = to enlargen/ to make an object bigger

Resolution = the ability of a microscope to differenciate between two close together objects

Compound light microscope:

Advantages:

• easy to use
• cheap to purchace
• 'true colour' but sometimes requires staining
• could use live specamins

Disadvantages:

• low resolution due to wavelength of light
• low magnification (max 1,250x, normally 400x)
• specamins are thin
• may not be representative

Electron microscope:

Advantages:

• much higher resolution
• provides detailed images of interiot structures
• higher magnification (500,000x)

Disadvantages:

• expensive
• extensive training required
• samples must be dead (vaccum, stains)
• black and white/ false colour

Magnification = size of image / actual size of object

REMEMBER: 'I AM' triangle

• mm to um = x1000
• um to mm = /1000

• 'um' used for actual size of object
• 'x' used for magnification