Microscope Introductory Lab
1. Examine your microscope and familiarize yourself with the parts. Locate the numbers on the lenses. What magnification is written on each of them?
Eyepiece / Low Power Objective / Medium Power Objective / High Power Objective2. The total magnification is determined by multiplying the objective lens with the eyepiece lens.
What is the total magnification of an item viewed if you are using the:
Low power objective? LOW ______
Medium power objective? MEDIUM ______
High power objective HIGH ______
3. Examine the diaphragm (Underneath the stage) with the microscope light on. As you turn the wheel, the viewing field should become lighter or darker. Gently and carefully tilt the microscope to view the diaphragm from underneath. Sketch what
the diaphragm looks like from underneath …………………………
4. Look into the eyepiece, twist the lens left and then right. Notice the line inside that moves as you twist, this is the pointer. What do you think the purpose of this line is?
______
5. Place the slide of the “letter e” on the stage so that the letter is over the hole and is right side up.
a. Use the low power objective to view the letter and use the coarse adjustment knob to focus.
b. Switch to the medium power objective – you may need to adjust the course knob a bit.
c. Finally, switch to high power. Remember at this point, you should only use the FINE adjustment knob!!!!!!!! See picture and notes to the right!!!!!
Draw the “e” as it appears at each magnification. Drawings should be drawn to scale and you should note the direction the “e” is facing in the viewing field:
(Is the “e” UPSIDEDOWN or RIGHT SIDE UP?) Circle ONE
LOW MEDIUM HIGH
5. Switch back to low power objective, and have your partner push the slide to the left while you view it through the lens. Which direction does the “e” appear to move to you? ______
8. Now go to Ms. Heglund and obtain 2 slides of different specimens. Use the circles below to sketch your specimens under LOW and MEDIUM power. You may practice CAREFULLY focusing with the high power, but you do not need to sketch it. Label your specimens from the name written on the slide.
Specimen 1 ______ / Specimen 2 ______LOW Power
MEDIUM Power / LOW Power
MEDIUM Power
8. Answer TRUE or FALSE to each of the statements
______On high power, you should use the coarse adjustment knob.
______The diaphragm determines how much light shines on the specimen.
______The low power objective has a greater magnification than the scanning objective.
______The fine focus knob moves the stage up and down.
______Images viewed in the microscope will appear upside down.
______The type of microscope you are using is a light microscope.
______For viewing, microscope slides should be placed on the objective.
______In order to switch from low to high power, you must rotate the revolving nosepiece.
______The total magnification of a microscope is determined by ADDING the eyepiece lens power to the objective lens power.