Microscope Lab
The human eye cannot distinguish objects much smaller than 0.1 mm in size. The microscope is a tool that
extends vision and allows observation of much smaller objects. The most commonly used compound microscope
is monocular (one eyepiece).
Procedure:
Part 1: The letter “e”
1. Obtain a lower case “e” from a news paper article and prepare a wetmount as described below:
a. Add a small drop of water to a slide using the pipette.
b. Place the letter “e” in the water right side up
c. Place the edge of a coverslip on the slide so that it touches the edge of the water
d. Slowly lower the coverslip to prevent forming and trapping air bubbles.
2. Place the “e” wetmount on the stage of the microscope so that the “e” is “readable” to you as you stand
behind the microscope. Focus on the letter “e” on low power. Draw what you see in your notebook. Be
sure to label your drawing including the magnification.
3. Look through the eyepiece at the letter as you move the stage slowly away from you (towards the wall).
Which direction does the letter appear to move? Move the slide to the right. In which direction does
the image move? Answer these questions in your notebook.
Part 2: Sugar
4. On a new dry slide place a few grains of sugar. Place the slide on the stage of the microscope and look at
the sugar under low power. Draw what you see in your notebook. Be sure to label your drawing including
the magnification.
Part 3: Threads
5. Place the prepared slide with the 3 colored threads on the stage and look at where the 3 threads overlap
on low power. Adjust the focus until you determine which thread is on top and which thread is on bottom.
Part 4: Hair
6. Pull out one strand of your hair and have your partner pull out one strand of their own hair.
7. Place the strands of hair in the form of an “X” on a slide. (You can opt to make a wet mount of the hair.
Refer to the wet mount directions above.)
8. Place the slide with the hair on the stage and connect the stage clip.
9. Observe on low power and draw in your notebook labeling appropriately.
10. Now switch to medium and then high power. NOTE: Do NOT use the coarse adjustment knob on high
power. Observe and draw in the appropriate place in your notebook.
Part 5: Pond water
11. Place a drop of pond water on the microscope slide and place a coverslip over the drop.
12. Place the slide on the stage and observe at low power then switch to medium power. Draw a picture of
some of the organisms you see.
Clean up
13. Throw away the “e” on the microscope slide and dry the slide off.
14. Place all slides back in the box. Place all of the materials back on the table where you found them
15. Make sure the lowest power objective is down and place the microscopes back on the counter.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Part 3:
Part 4:
Fig. 3
Part 5:
Fig. 5
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Microscope Lab Questions
Part 1: The letter “e”
1. Which direction does the letter appear to move when you move the slide
away from you (towards the wall)?
2. Which direction does the letter appear to move when you move the slide to
the right?
3. What does this tell you about the image you are seeing in the microscope?
Part 2: Sugar
4. How would you describe the shape of the sugar?
Part 3: Thread
5. Which color thread is on top? Which is on bottom? How do you know?
Part 4: Hair
6. Do the strands of hair look the same or different before you look at them
under the microscope? Explain
7. While looking at the hair under the microscope which hair is thicker than
the other?
8. Which objective lens shows you more area?
9. Which objective lens shows you more detail?