The use of 1 Microscopes

Name: Khulud Abdulaziz Nazer

ID: U00045236

September 23 2014
General biology lab

Section: 13 T
Instructor: Tasneem Obaid











Introduction:

Microscopes are instruments used to enlarge objects that are too small to
be seen by ones eyes.
Microscopy is the science of the examination of small objects using
microscopes.
Technically we have two types of microscopes, the optical microscope
which was first invented in late 1500s. It uses light and glass lenses
(objectives) to magnify the image of an object up to 4X, 10X, 40X and a
100X. The second type is the electron microscope which was developed
at early 1900s, it uses an electron beam in the place of light and
electromagnets in the place of objectives to allow a much higher
resolution up to two million times.
In this experiment we will be using the optical microscope and not the
electron microscope to examine specimens, as it is available in almost all
the laboratories. In addition, the costs of the optical microscope is too
low compared to that of the electron microscope. Moreover, the optical
microscope can be stored in normal room temperature and pressure not
requiring a vacuum as the electron one does.








Materials:
Compound light microscope and stereomicroscope.
Prepared dry mount of the letter e .
A plug.

Method:
First of all, we used a compound light microscope to assess the letter e.
We followed the following procedure;
A slide of dry mount of letter e was previously prepared. The letter
was first observed by the naked eye and a sketch of it was made.
We made sure that the compound light microscope cable was in the
electricity plug and the power of the microscope was on. As for the light
of the microscope.

The 4X objective was chosen by spinning the nosepiece.
We altered the clips by lying the specimen slide down on the stage.
By using the coarse adjustment knob, we moved the stage vertically to
focus the image of the letter e. And by using the fine adjustment knob,
we moved it horizontally to sharpen the image.
The image was observed and the sketch was made too.
The same steps were repeated to examine the letter e with the same
compound light microscope with 10X and 40X objective lenses. Sketches
of each were drawn.
When finished, 10X objective was back o its place, stage was at its
lowest level and the power was switched off. It was then stored away by
us.

Then a stereomicroscope was used to assess the letter e as well.
The stereomicroscope was turned on.
We placed the specimen slide on the stage of the microscope.
We set the scope on 4X objective.
The slide was made at the middle of the stage by altering the fine
adjustment knob.
The slide was moved by the coarse adjustment knob until the image of
the letter e was focused.
The image was therefore observed and a sketch was made.




Results:
The sketch of the letter e at each objective differs depending on the
power of the objectives. The higher the power the more the detailed the
image of the letter e is shown. However, the less the power of the
objectives the less the magnification takes place. Hence, less detailed
image.

The table below shows our sketches with the different objectives of both
microscopes.


The table above shows the results obtained by us after we observed the
letter e under different magnifications on both the compound light
microscope and the stereomicroscopes. First sketch-letter e (naked eye)-
shows the image of the letter when seen by the naked eye. The second
sketch- letter e (4x lens)- from the left shows how the letter becomes
more detailed when used under the 4X objective of the compound light
microscope. The third sketch- letter e (10x lens)- however shows how a
bigger version of approximately half of the letter was seen with very
small details of the lines of the letter using the compound light
microscope. The fourth sketch- letter e (40x lens)- is the clearest of all
showing the tiniest threads of the letter when used under the compound
light microscope. Finally, the last sketch on the right- letter e
(stereomicroscopes)- shows how the image looks clearer when used
under the stereoscopes than that of the naked eye.

Discussion:
The main objective of this experiment is to show how the use of any type
of microscopes magnify and clarify the small images that are required to
be accurately seen. Also, the use of different powers of the objective
lenses and the results each magnification power shows after the test. It is
clearly shown that the objectives were supported by the results obtained
from the above experiment.
Most of the results from previously worked experiments from other
students showed the same outcomes, with very slight differences in the
way they drew their sketches. There is a probability that the results are
not very accurate because each experiment was done only once with the
help of my lab partner. However, in order to have a more accurate results,
this experiment has to be done at least six times for each power of the
objective lenses.





Conclusion:
In this experiment we have learned the importance f the microscopes, the
parts of the microscopes, and how to use the optical microscopes to
investigate specimens using different powers of magnifications. Without
having this experience, we wouldnt be able to use the simplest
microscope, which is considered a fundamental skill at laboratories.






References:
Racha Al-Khoury and Ban Al-Joubori, Spring 2013-2014, version
4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microscope