Lesson 1.2 - A Virtual Microscope

 It is time to work with a microscope. 

A virtual microscope activity can be found on your Science. Connect1 Student Multimedia CD.  To learn about the parts of the compound microscope and how to use a compound microscope, view the applet Microscope from the Microscope folder.  Follow the instructions given; then, answer the questions below.

If you don't have the Science.Connect1 CD you can google something like "microscope parts" or simply look at the solution and learn the parts that way.

 

Question 1. What are two uses of light microscopes?

Question 2. What is the difference between a monocular microscope and a binocular compound microscope?

Question 3. Which objective lens power is best for locating a specimen in the viewing area of a microscope? (Hint: You will find an answer to this in parts 3 to 5 of the applet.)

Question 4. Correctly label the parts of the microscope shown below.  (Part 4 of applet.)

                             

 

Question 5. Which adjusting wheel is used to bring a specimen into focus when using the low power objective lens?  (Part 6 of applet.)

Question 6. Which wheel is used with the medium and high power lenses to see more detail?  (Part 7 of applet.)

Question 7. Which power gives you the greatest magnification of the specimens?  (Parts 8 and 9 of applet.)

Question 8. The single-celled organisms you see in the big screen are paramecia.  Describe what they look like at first and then after you turn the fine focus wheel.  (Part 8 of applet.)

Question 9. Click on the paramecia.  Describe what you see at each power.  (Part 9 of applet.)

Question 10. Click on the red blood cells.  Describe what you see at each power.  (Part 9 of applet.)

 

Check your answers with those that follow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers to Questions:

Question 1. What are two uses of light microscopes?

They can be used to analyze blood samples, view single-celled organisms, and view computer circuit boards.

Question 2. What is the difference between a monocular microscope and a binocular compound microscope?

                 A monocular compound microscope has only one eyepiece, and a binocular has two eyepieces to look through.  ( Mono = one and bi = two.)

Question 3. Which objective lens power is best for locating a specimen in the viewing area of a microscope?

The low power objective lens is best for locating a specimen.  After you find it, you can zoom in.

Question 4. Correctly label the parts of the microscope shown below.  (Part 4 of applet.)

                             

A.  <eye piece>

B.  <coarse-adjustment>

C.  <fine-adjustment>

D.  <arm>

E.   <low power objective lense>

F.   <stage clips>

G.  <tube>

H.  <revolving nose-piece>

I.   <high power objective lens>

J.   <stage>

K.  <light source>

L.   <base> 

 

Question 5. Which adjusting wheel is used to bring a specimen into focus when using the low power objective lens?

                 The coarse focus wheel is used to bring the specimen into focus.

Question 6. Which wheel is used with the medium and high power lenses to see more detail?

                 The fine focus wheel is used with the medium and high-power lens to see more detail.

Question 7. Which power gives you the greatest magnification of the specimens? 

                  The highest total power (400X) on the microscope gives the greatest magnification of the specimens.

Question 8. The single-celled organisms you see in the big screen are paramecia.  Describe what they look like at first and then after you turn the fine focus wheel. 

                  There are 3 complete paramecia and 3 that are partly on the screen.  They are all blurry at first, but as you turn the fine focus wheel, they get clear and sharp.

Question 9. Click on the paramecia.  Describe what you see at each power.

                  Power 40X: There are several small paramecia with a pointer close to a group of them.
Power 100X: This has zoomed in closer to see only the group, which contains 4 paramecia.
Power 400X: A much closer look showing the dark nucleus in the center of each.

Question 10. Click on the red blood cells.  Describe what you see at each power.

                 Power 40X: There appears to be a solid purple area.
Power 100X: The purple area has holes in it.
Power 400X: The purple becomes small round blood cells and the white areas are the background.

 


Go to the next page to learn more about the microscope.