Microscopes
A PowerPoint Presentation by:
Danielle Steward
History of Microscopes
The first vision aid was a round piece of glass that
magnified objects when laid on top of them.
An Italian, Salvino D’Armate, created the first pair
of eyeglasses.
In 1590, two Dutch scientists found that when
they placed multiple lenses over a tube, it greatly
enlarged the things inside the tube.
This lead to the creation of the compound
microscope and the telescope.
In 1665, Robert Hooke looked at a piece of
cork through a microscope lens and noticed
that there were “pores” or “cells.”
In 1674, Anton Van Leeuwenhoek built a
simple microscope to view blood and insects.
He invented new methods of grinding and
shaping the lenses to create a better
magnification for the microscope.
In 1872, Ernest Abbe created a mathematical
formula called the “Abbe Sine Condition.” This
formula calculated the maximum resolution a
microscope could have.
In 1903, the ultra microscope was created to
study objects under the wavelength of light.
In 1931, Ernst Rusko helped to invent the
electron microscope which used electrons,
instead of light, to view an object.
There are two configurations of microscopes.
The upright and the inverted.
The Upright Microscope
In the upright, the light is below the stage and
the lens system is above the stage.
The Inverted Microscope
The inverted microscope has the light above the
stage and the lens system below the stage.
“Behind the Lens”
The simple lens of a microscope uses
reflection and refraction of light to view
objects.
Geometrical Optics is the science behind
magnification.
Geometrical Optics helps show how to form
lenses that would be more efficient in
microscopes.
Geometrical Optics
Two surfaces are ground to a certain degree
and they either produce a convergence or
divergence of light passing through the
material.
How It Works
The microscope forms an image by passing
light through the material and then the light is
focused onto the eyepiece and that allows you
to be able to see the material magnified.
What Are They Used For Today?
Microscopes are used to visually inspect
different cells such as bacteria. They are used
to help find cancer cells and process diseases.
Microscopes are still used today, but more
modern versions may have lasers or motors to
move objects.
In the Future!
Scientists are working to find and view the
structure of the smallest known molecule.
Scientists also hope to learn more about
microbes and how they affect the world.
Bibliography
 Davidson, Michael. “Lenses and Geometrical Optics.”
Molecular Expressions.
<http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/lightandcolor/lense
shome.html>. 01 Aug. 03. 02 Feb. 10.
 “History of Microscopes.” About.com.
<http://inventors.about.com/od/mstartinventions/a/
microscopes.htm>. 2010. 02 Feb. 10.
 “Visualizing the Future.” Human’s Future.
<http://www.humansfuture.org/visualize_light_microscop
es.htm>. 2010. 02 Feb. 10.