Core Practical: Microscopy Flashcards

All 6 cards in this deck

What is the equation for the total magnification of a light microscope?

total magnification = eyepiece lens magnification × objective lens magnification

Why is a coverslip placed on a microscope slide?

To keep the specimen flat and in place, and to protect the specimen and the objective lens.

Why is a stain added when preparing a slide of cells?

To make the cells and their structures show up clearly (increase contrast) so they can be identified.

Why is a thin peel or thin section viewed under a light microscope rather than the whole specimen?

The whole specimen is too thick and would not let light pass through it; a thin section lets light through so the cells can be identified.

What should a labelled scientific drawing of cells seen under a microscope include?

Clear sharp pencil lines with no shading, the shape of the actual cells seen, labels (e.g. nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, cilia) and the magnification or a scale bar.

When first bringing a slide into focus under a light microscope, which objective lens and which focusing knob should you use?

The lowest-power objective lens and the coarse adjustment knob; then use the fine adjustment knob to make the image sharp.