Viewing the Cell: Notes
Chapter 3 page 39-41
1. Approximately how old is the first microscope?
2. What is magnification?
3. What is resolution?
4. What is a compound microscope?
5. How do you calculate the total magnification of a compound microscope?
6. What is a micrograph?
7. What is the difference between a compound microscope and an electron
microscope?
8. a. Why can’t living specimens be viewed using a transmission electron microscope?
b. Why can’t living specimens be viewed using a scanning electron microscope?
Read pages 1022-1023 before you answer the following questions:
9. Explain the difference between the fine and course adjustment on the compound
microscope.
10. What is the proper way to handle (carry) a microscope?
11. What does the diaphragm do?
12. When making a wet mount why should you lower the coverslip slowly?
13. Read step 7 under making a wet mount. What is the proper way to add additional
water to a slide when your slide dries out?
1. Approximately how old is the first
microscope?
First microscope was developed in the late
1600’s.
2. What is magnification?
Is the microscopes ability to make an object
appear larger.
3. What is resolution?
Is the microscopes capacity to distinguish
different objects that are close to one
another.
4. What is a compound microscope?
It is a microscope that has two lenses and a
light source. Light shines up though the
specimen, passes through the objective lens
being used and then through the eyepiece.
5. How do you calculate the total
magnification of a compound microscope?
Is determined by multiplying the objective
lens being used by the eyepiece.
Example: Low power lens
4
X
X
eyepiece
10 =40
6. What is a micrograph?
Is a photograph of an object as seen through
the microscope.
7. What is the difference between a
compound microscope and an electron
microscope?
Electron microscopes use beams of electrons
in order to see different specimens whereas
compound microscopes use a light source.
Electron microscopes allow you to see
smaller objects and much better detail than
compound microscopes.
8. Why can’t living specimens be viewed
under a transmission electron microscope?
Because specimens must be sliced and
stained, therefore it is impossible to view
living specimens.
9. Why can’t living specimens be observed
using a scanning electron microscope?
Because electrons bounce off molecules of
gas in the air, the specimen must be viewed
in a vacuum chamber. Living cells can’t
survive in a vacuum.