Introduction to Microscopes! Now Seeing  IS  Believing!
A Brief History
Simple Glass Magnifiers More than 500 years ago. In 1600s, this “simple microscope” allowed scientists to see cells and bacteria Problem: not enough  magnification
First Compound Microscope Developed at the beginning of the 1600's, by the Janssen brothers and Galileo Problem: images  were blurred and  had colored halos
Simple Compound Microscope Invented in 1660s Problem: all images had red or blue “halos” around them
Even better! 1700 and 1800s – great improvement in microscopes Usually made of brass (expensive) Had a tripod for support
Modern Compound Microscope 1900s, started using iron  instead of brass (cheaper) Only one eyepiece  (monocular) Outside light source  reflected onto mirror Very functional Still used today
Fancy! Better images More magnification Better lighting Easier to use Now everyone, at one time or another, has looked through a microscope
How Does It Work? A microscope works very much like a telescope. A telescope must gather light from a dim,  far away  object. So, it needs a  large   objective lens to  gather as much light  as possible and a  long  body to bring  the image into focus.
How Does It Work? Unlike a telescope, a microscope must gather light from a  tiny  specimen that is  close-by .  So the microscope does  not  need a large objective lens.  Instead, the  objective lens  of a microscope is  small . Then the image is again magnified by a second lens, called an  eyepiece , as it is brought to your eye.
Parts of a Compound Microscope So EASY a KID could use it!
Base The bottom of the microscope, used for support Hold this part with one hand when carrying a microscope ←
Mirror Reflects the light so the specimen is easier to see ←
Stage The flat platform where you place your slides.   It has a hole in it so light can shine through ←
Clip Shiny clips on the top of the stage Holds a slide in place ←
Arm Supports the tube and connects it to the base  The part you hold when you carry the microscope ←
Coarse Adjustment Large, round knob on the side of the microscope Either moves the stage or the top part of the microscope up and down ->
Fine Adjustment Small, round knob on the side of the microscope Used to fine tune the focus after using the coarse adjustment knob. ->
Eyepiece The lens at the top that you look through. 10X  power ->
Body Tube The long tube that holds the eyepiece and connects the objective ->
Nosepiece Rotating part of the microscope at the bottom of the body tube. It holds the objective lenses ←
High Power Objective The longest objective lens The highest magnification 40X lens  (40X  x   10X  =  400X  magnification) ->
Low Power Objective The shortest objective lens The lowest magnification 4X lens  (4X  x   10X  =  40X  magnification) ←
Mid Power Objective The medium length objective lens The medium magnification 10X lens  (10X  x   10X  =  100X  magnification) ←
Diaphragm Controls the amount of light going through the hole in the stage ->
Pop Quiz What two parts should you hold when you carry a microscope? Base & Arm Where do you put a slide? On the Stage To focus, what knob do you turn first?  Second? First, Coarse Adjustment Second, Fine Adjustment ← ← -> ← ←
Test Your Skills . . .  Arm Body Tube Stage Clip Base  Coarse Adjustment Fine Adjustment
Test Your Skills High Power Objective Low Power Objective Mirror Eyepiece Nosepiece Diaphragm

Introduction To Microscopes History & Parts

  • 1.
    Introduction to Microscopes!Now Seeing IS Believing!
  • 2.
  • 3.
    Simple Glass MagnifiersMore than 500 years ago. In 1600s, this “simple microscope” allowed scientists to see cells and bacteria Problem: not enough magnification
  • 4.
    First Compound MicroscopeDeveloped at the beginning of the 1600's, by the Janssen brothers and Galileo Problem: images were blurred and had colored halos
  • 5.
    Simple Compound MicroscopeInvented in 1660s Problem: all images had red or blue “halos” around them
  • 6.
    Even better! 1700and 1800s – great improvement in microscopes Usually made of brass (expensive) Had a tripod for support
  • 7.
    Modern Compound Microscope1900s, started using iron instead of brass (cheaper) Only one eyepiece (monocular) Outside light source reflected onto mirror Very functional Still used today
  • 8.
    Fancy! Better imagesMore magnification Better lighting Easier to use Now everyone, at one time or another, has looked through a microscope
  • 9.
    How Does ItWork? A microscope works very much like a telescope. A telescope must gather light from a dim, far away object. So, it needs a large objective lens to gather as much light as possible and a long body to bring the image into focus.
  • 10.
    How Does ItWork? Unlike a telescope, a microscope must gather light from a tiny specimen that is close-by . So the microscope does not need a large objective lens. Instead, the objective lens of a microscope is small . Then the image is again magnified by a second lens, called an eyepiece , as it is brought to your eye.
  • 11.
    Parts of aCompound Microscope So EASY a KID could use it!
  • 12.
    Base The bottomof the microscope, used for support Hold this part with one hand when carrying a microscope ←
  • 13.
    Mirror Reflects thelight so the specimen is easier to see ←
  • 14.
    Stage The flatplatform where you place your slides.  It has a hole in it so light can shine through ←
  • 15.
    Clip Shiny clipson the top of the stage Holds a slide in place ←
  • 16.
    Arm Supports thetube and connects it to the base The part you hold when you carry the microscope ←
  • 17.
    Coarse Adjustment Large,round knob on the side of the microscope Either moves the stage or the top part of the microscope up and down ->
  • 18.
    Fine Adjustment Small,round knob on the side of the microscope Used to fine tune the focus after using the coarse adjustment knob. ->
  • 19.
    Eyepiece The lensat the top that you look through. 10X power ->
  • 20.
    Body Tube Thelong tube that holds the eyepiece and connects the objective ->
  • 21.
    Nosepiece Rotating partof the microscope at the bottom of the body tube. It holds the objective lenses ←
  • 22.
    High Power ObjectiveThe longest objective lens The highest magnification 40X lens (40X x 10X = 400X magnification) ->
  • 23.
    Low Power ObjectiveThe shortest objective lens The lowest magnification 4X lens (4X x 10X = 40X magnification) ←
  • 24.
    Mid Power ObjectiveThe medium length objective lens The medium magnification 10X lens (10X x 10X = 100X magnification) ←
  • 25.
    Diaphragm Controls theamount of light going through the hole in the stage ->
  • 26.
    Pop Quiz Whattwo parts should you hold when you carry a microscope? Base & Arm Where do you put a slide? On the Stage To focus, what knob do you turn first? Second? First, Coarse Adjustment Second, Fine Adjustment ← ← -> ← ←
  • 27.
    Test Your Skills. . . Arm Body Tube Stage Clip Base Coarse Adjustment Fine Adjustment
  • 28.
    Test Your SkillsHigh Power Objective Low Power Objective Mirror Eyepiece Nosepiece Diaphragm