How does a microscope work?

Part B-Making a Wet Mount

1. Obtained a clean microscope slide and cover slip.
2. Cut out a 3mm2 sample from the colored comics section of a newspaper and used the medicine dropper to place a drop of water on the slide.
3. Placed the comics sample on the slide and added an additional drop.
4. Placed the cover slip on the slide at a 45° angle.
5. Viewed the slide under all three powers starting with the low-power objective lens.
6. Recorded observations.
7. Repeated steps 3-4 using a sample of newsprint from the classified section. Placed the slide so the words were easily read.
8. Viewed the slide under the lower-power objective lens.
9. Recorded observations.
10. Removed the slide.
11. Cleaned up the lab area and placed the equipment in the designated places.

Observations

Summary of Results

Description of Color Comics

Low power: Blurry, dark outlines, string of pink, yellow, and green

Medium power: dark outlines, string of yellow, green and orange, pink blotch on the side

High power: detailed string of yellow and green, dark outlines, pink blotch on the side

Diagram of Classified Ads Under Low Power

Part A- Using the Microscope

8. The image appears more detailed, focused and sharper in the medium magnification than in the low magnification.
9. The slide appears to move to the left when it is moved to the right.
10. The slide appears to move to the right when it is moved to the left.

13. The image appears larger, more detailed, and focused in the high magnification than in the medium magnification.
14. The diaphragm adjusts the amount of light of the microscope.

Calculations

Magnification Power     X     Magnification Power     =     Total Magnification

            of Ocular Lens                      of Objective Lens

6. 4 X 10 = 40

11. 10 X 10 = 100

15. 40 X 10 = 400

Conclusions

The purpose was achieved. Since the enlargement of images under certain magnifications using the lenses and light of a microscope was seen, it can therefore be concluded that a microscope enables one to see details that are otherwise too small to be seen with the unaided eye by the use of lenses and light to magnify an object. As a result, my hypothesis was proven correct.

Text Questions    

1. a) Objective Lenses: lenses used to focus when using the microscope

b) Stage clips: clips on top of the stage used to hold slides  

c) Course-adjustment knob: round knob on the side of the microscope used for focusing on the specimen

d) Fine-adjustment knob: round knob on the side of the microscope used to fine-tune the focus of the specimen after using the coarse adjustment knob

e) Revolving nosepiece: the rotating part of the microscope at the bottom of the body tube that holds the objective lenses

f) Diaphragm: controls and adjusts the amount of light

2. One should watch the objective lens from the side when changing magnification because it allows the individual to prevent the lens from scratching the slide.

3. The higher the magnification, the less the specimen is seen.

4. The higher the magnification, the more detail that is visible.

5. One would have to move the slide up and to the right to move an image from the top-right to the center of the field of view.

6. One does not see the minute details of the comic, like the strips of colors, without the aid of a microscope.

7. The letters of the newsprint seem to be backwards and have higher detail under the microscope than with the unaided eye.

8. A microscope should be stored covered when not in use to prevent dust from accumulating.