Purchase Solution

Introduction to Light Microscopy: The Compound Microcope

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

I. Microscope Components:
a. Binocular eyepiece tube
b. Revolving Nose piece
c. Arm and Base
d. Stage and its associated parts
i. Movable slide clamp
ii. Stage motion controls
II. Optical Components
a. Light source
b. The condenser
c. Objective lenses
d. Resolving power
e. Depth of field
f. Parfocality
g. Working Distance
h. Ocular Lenses

1. What is the purpose of the condenser?
2. What is the function of the objective lens?
3. What is the relationship between the numerical aperture and the resolving power?
4. What is the total magnification of the microscope when the 10X objective len is used?
5. Working Distance of the objective lenses is the distance between the tip of that objective and the speciment being viewed. Based on these information, which objective lenses give you the longest working distance ?
6. Why is the microscope called the compound microscope?
7. What are two methods to increase contrast to a specimen?
8. What structure in the cell does Acetocarmine binds to and stain it red?
9. What structure in the potatoe does potassium iodide I2KI binds to?
10. What structures in the cell does Toluidine Blue binds to?

Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary

The light microscope has become a valuable tool for the study of cell and molecular biology. The use of the light microscope has shown the intracellular distribution of the three classes of cytoskeleton using fluorescent tags. The distribution of DNA within mitochondrion using fluorescence tags has also been shown with a light microscope. The localization of telomeres on a chromosomes has also been shown with a light microscope. Overall, the light microscope has contributed great knowledge and broaden our understanding of cell and molecular biology.

Solution Preview

1. What is the purpose of the condenser?
The function of the condenser lens is to focus the maximum amount of light from the light source upon the specimen. The condenser must focused a small and bright focused spot for the best result.

2. What is the function of the objective lens?
The function of the objective lens is to to accomplish the first stage of magnification in the compound microscope

3. Define numerical aperture ( NA) ?
The numerical aperture is a measure of the light gathering capacity of the objective lens. The greater the value of NA, the greater the resolving power.

4. What is the total magnification of the microscope when the 10X objective len is used?

Ocular lens ( 10X) X 10X = 100X

Since the ocular lens magnifies the image formed by the ...

Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
Breast Milk and Breastfeeding

How much do you know about breast milk and breastfeeding? Double check your knowledge level with this quiz!

Do You Know Your Macromolecules?

This quiz will assess your knowledge of the macromolecules that are important to living things.

Understanding the Musculoskeletal system

Introduce and understand basic information how the skeletal system and muscular system work in close concert with one another. And how their interaction between muscle and bone, as they work together to allow us movement.

Basic Concepts in Neuroscience

This quiz provides a review of the basic concepts in neuroscience.

BioChemistry Basics

This Quiz will test your knowledge of the amino acids used in biological systems

View More Free Quizzes
Related BrainMass Solutions

  • Light Microscopy: Refraction, refractive index, resolution and numerical aperture

    In a compound microscope, the wavelength of the light waves that illuminate the specimen limits the resolution. The wavelength of visible light ranges from about 400 to 700 nanometers.

  • Microscopy: total magnification, depth of field

    4726 Microscopy: total magnification, depth of field Question 1: When you move from a low powered objective to high powered objective does: magnification increase; depth of field, decrease, field of view, decrease, and brightness of field, decrease

  • Modern Analytical Techniques

    Qualitative organic analysis seeks to establish the presence of a given functional group or organic compound in a sample. ? Quantitative Quantitative analysis seeks to establish the amount of a given element or compound in a sample.

  • High-performance liquid chromatography

    The amount absorbed can be directly related to the amount of each component. The output will be recorded as a series of peaks - each one representing a compound in the mixture passing through the detector and absorbing UV light.

  • Cell Biology Comparisons

    (Hint: it is a procedure used in conjunction with Transmission Electron Microscopy.) Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy c. Structures in living cells. Polarized light microscopy 17.

  • The Foree & Lolordo (1973) study

    BUT, these birds has to turn the handle after the ton/light to AVOID the shock. After training, there was a test phase where No food and No shock were given. Instead of the compound stimulus, the tone and the light were presented alone.

  • Alkane Reactions

    8226 Alkane Reactions An unknown compound with a molecular formula of C8H18 reacts with chlorine in the presence of light and heat. From the reaction, only one compound with the formula C8H17Cl can be isolated.

  • Various Types of Microscopes and Their Uses

    b) Human blood cell: Compound Light Microscope Compound Light microscope is the most commonly used microscope. One can view individual cells, even living ones through this microscope.

  • Photosynthesis and Cellular respiration description

    The light reactions occur in the grana of the chloroplast. DARK OR LIGHT INDEPENDENT REACTIONS NADPH is used in the light independent reactions to form macromolecules. This is also called the Calvin Cycle.

View More Related Solutions