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

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Define the following four terms associated with light microscopy: refraction, refractive index, resolution and numerical aperture. Does the resolution of a microscope depend on the wavelength of light used to observe the sample preparation? What wavelength of visible light would you want to use for the best resolution?

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The solution discusses refraction, refractive index, resolution and numerical aperature.

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Light Microscope - A light microscope is the one which uses visible light to form the observed enlarged image. It can be either simple microscope or compound microscope.

1) Refraction - Refraction occurs when light goes from a medium of one density or refractive index to one of another. The amount of refraction that occurs depends on the difference in the refractive Indices of the two media and is described by Snell's law: n1 sin q1 = n2 sin q2

Where n1 = The refractive index of Media 1
n2 = The refractive index of Media 2
q1= Angle of Incidence
q2= Angle of Refraction

Refraction causes loss of light and therefore darkening which is very useful in viewing images using the compound ...

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