What is a microscope and is using a microscope important for science students?It is essentially a device that is used to notice tiny objects referred to as cells. Through microscopes, we are able to see that an object is enlarged.Through the lens, we see the magnified image of an object. The lens of the instrument helps in bending light towards the eye, which makes the object seem larger than its actual size. You need to use a microscope properly to check the specimen. To carry it carefully you need to hold the arm of the instrument and lift it with one hand with your other hand placed at the base. You should always carry it with both hands and place it down slowly. Read further to find out more about microscopes and how to use a microscope.After having gone through this page on how to use a microscope properly, do refer to our other fact files on how to use colored pencils and how to raise a chick.What is a microscope?Before using a microscope, you must focus on what it is and what are its functions in microscopy. A microscope is an instrument that is used in microscopy. It produces enlarged images of small-sized objects. This helps the person to have a close view of tiny structures, which in turn helps them in examining and analyzing them.A microscope is made up of special components which enable magnification. It can be used to view minute specimens and is able to distinguish their difference in structures. You can see a plant cell and an animal cell using a microscope. They can easily find their differences. Microscopes are built up with various structural components which hold and support the microscope and the optical parts which are used in the magnification of the object. A plane or concave mirror is placed on the microscope base. They are used in sending light onto the specimen and into the microscope optics.Low-power objective lenses can cover a wide field of view. They are mainly used for examining large or small specimens. The lowest power objective is 10X. The higher-power objective lens in microscopes is ideal for observing the smallest details of a sample. The total magnification for a high-power objective lens is equal to 400X.Types Of MicroscopeThe most popular microscopes that are used in light microscopy are the compound microscope, stereo microscope, digital microscope, and pocket or handheld microscope.Did you know that to switch to the high power objective lens, you need to look at the microscope from the side? The compound light microscope uses both the lenses and the light to focus on a specimen and enlarge the object which you’re viewing. The eyepiece does the magnification of 10X to 15X, but it increases up to 1000X when three or more objective lenses are used. This compound light microscope is mainly used by botanists for studying specimens of bacteria, cells, and other microorganisms. Light microscopy is a method that is used in making small structures and samples visible as magnified images, which we get when they interact with visible light. The power cord that is present helps in illumination and is located at the uppermost part of the stand. A plug is also connected to it.The stereo microscope is also referred to as a dissecting microscope or low power microscope. Low-power microscopes are used for looking at a larger size specimen like bees or coins. It has got two optical paths, which are at slightly different angles. This allows the viewing of the image in a 3D way using the lenses. These low-power microscopes can magnify up to 40X. It is used for seeing objects around the house like insects, plants from the garden, and even critters.The digital microscope was invented in 1986 in Japan. It is made in such a way that it uses the power of a computer to see objects which we cannot see through the naked eye. The microscope has a connection with the computer monitor through the USB cable. Thus the computer software that is present allows the monitor to show the object after magnification. By using this microscope one can even record the moving images or single images and they are stored in the computer’s memory.The USB computer microscope is used to magnify any type of object, it need not be only a specimen or microorganism. It has got a macro lens that is used to observe images that are displayed on the computer screen to which the USB port is connected. Though the magnification is restrained and cannot be compared to the magnification scale of the standard compound light microscope. It has only up to 200X and also has a comparatively small depth of field.Parts Of A MicroscopeThe head, the base, and the arm are the main components of microscopes. The head is also called the body as it carries all the optical parts. Then the base is the support system of the instrument as it bears the microscopic illuminator. Last is the arms. They are the connection between the head and the base. It holds the head of the microscope and also carries it. There are few microscopes of high quality which bear articulate MD arms with joints that help in the flexible movement of the head to view better.There are some optical parts of the microscope that are used in viewing, magnifying and producing an image of the placed sample.An eyepiece or ocular is the part through which we look at the sample. It is located on the top and has a standard magnification of 10X and also consists of an optional eyepiece which has a magnification scale between 5X and 30X.The eyepiece tube is the holder and it bears the eyepiece exactly above the objective lens.The objective lenses are used for the visualization of specimens. An objective lens first gathers light from the spectrum then magnifies the image. There is a maximum of four objective lenses facing the rear or front size and they have a magnification power of 40X-100X.The nose piece, also referred to as the revolving turret, holds the objective lenses and can also rotate those lenses according to the magnification power. This piece locks the objective lens into a particular position over the stage aperture.The adjustment knobs are used to maintain the focus of the microscope. By turning the adjustment knob of a microscope upward or downward, you can surely bring the sample into focus. This knob is located on the microscope’s arm, and it elevates or lowers the stage in order to bring the sample into focus and clearer in view. Using the ‘fine focus knob’ we can bring the image into focus.Other than the adjustment knobs, the stage is also the focusing part of the microscope. The stage is the place where the microscope slide is kept. It is the platform that works in support of the slides. The mechanical stage is the most popular stage among them as it allows the movement of the slides using mechanical knobs. Stages often contain a mechanical device that holds the sample slide in place and can even smoothly move the slide back and forth. It can also move the slide sideways depending on the requirement. The slides are mainly controlled by two knobs.There is a hole on the microscope stage that transmits light from the source to the stage and is called the aperture.The microscopic illuminator is the light source of the microscope which is present at the base.Condensers are lenses that are used for collecting and focusing light from the illuminator to the sample. They are placed next to the diaphragm. This helps in creating images that are sharp and clear.The diaphragm also called the iris, is found under the stage of the microscope. Its main work is controlling the amount of light that is falling onto the specimen.The knob which helps in moving the condenser up or down is called the ‘condenser focus knob’. It works by controlling the focus of the light reaching the sample slide. The coarse focus knob helps in bringing the sample into near focus. The fine focus uses the fine focus knob available in order to sharpen the focus quality of the image which has been brought after focusing with the coarse focus knob. The focus knob is placed at the base of the arm behind the stage.The ‘Abbe condenser’ is a type of condenser which is specially designed. It is seen in high-quality microscopes only. It enables the movement of the condenser and leads to very high magnification, approximately above 400X. In high-quality microscopes, you’ll normally see that they have a high numerical aperture when compared to objective lenses.There is also a rack stop that controls when the stages should stop the objective lens from getting too near to the sample slide which may harm the specimen. It works in preventing the sample slide from coming too near and hitting the objective lens.How To Use A Microscope For KidsIn order to use a microscope properly, you need to position your microscope down on a flat surface very slowly and take a specimen that you want to look at. You should hold the arm with one hand and place the other hand at the base for support. It should constantly be kept on a flat table so that it is never knocked over or it does not fall down. Then, put the specimen on a microscope slide, which is a rectangle of glass that holds your object. Those slides are made up of borosilicate glass. They are covered with a cover glass. The microscope slides sit at a particular degree and are held down through stage clips. These stage clips hold the microscope slides in the proper position. When you observe through the top, you may see a magnified image of your specimen. This method is mostly applicable to viewing through light microscopes, in which light is moved via different lenses.The part of the microscope you use to see the object is called the ocular lens. There is the presence of a high-powered magnifying glass in the lenses. The image you notice while seeing through the ocular lens has 10X magnification. There is also the availability of objective lenses. By the usage of the nose piece, you may switch among those lenses.Your microscope ought to have any one of those lenses. If there is the availability of objective lenses, then you’ll be able to magnify the sample more. If you have the objective lens which is larger in size, then you’ll be able to see a more magnified image. Lens paper is used when cleaning the lenses from pieces of dust and dirt to see better. Lens paper is made of linen stock that is soft as well as non-abrasive and is dust-free paper.Whenever you change the lower power to higher power on a microscope, the higher power objective lens is directly moved over the sample, whereas a low power objective lens rotates away from the specimen. This change in the places alters the magnification of a sample, the brightness of the light, the field of view, its depth, the working distance, and the resolution also.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for ‘How to use a microscope’ then why not take a look at ‘How to make a waterfall’, or ‘How to tie a ponytail’?
What is a microscope and is using a microscope important for science students?
