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Figure 1. The light microscope6
Troubleshooting 5
Source 5
General Information of the Microscope
The Light Microscope is an instrument that allows the user
to observe tiny things that a human cannot see through naked
eyes, it can be used to magnify the images of objects directly
through the lens.
Historical Background
It is widely believed that Dutch spectacle makers, Zacharias
Jansen and his father Hans were responsible for making the
first compound microscope in the late 16th century (Z Jans-
sen c. 1580 - 1638). The microscope consisted of three draw
tubes with lenses inserted into the ends of the flanking tubes.
The eyepiece lens was bi-convex and the objective lens was
plano-convex, a very advanced compound design for this time
period. Focusing of this handheld microscope was achieved by
sliding the draw tube in or out while observing the sample. The
microscope was capable of magnifying images approximately 3
times when fully closed and up to ten times when extended to
the maximum.1
Components
The Light microscope is a precision instrument, it consists of
many little parts. (See Figure 1 for the name of each part of the
microscope.)
Ocular lens/eyepiece are the
lenses that users look into to
observe the objects. Usually the
magnifications of ocular lens are
10 times or 15 times.3
2
Frame is a body part of the light microscope that connects the body tube to the
base of the microscope.3
Nose Piece is a rotating turret that houses the objective lenses. The viewer spins
the nosepiece to select different objective lenses.
Objective lens are the lenses that are placed closest to the objects, the magnifi-
cations of objective lens are from lowest of 4 times to highest 100 times.3
Coarse Adjustment is a knob that is used for focusing objects in a general fo-
cus.
Fine adjustment is a knob that is used for focusing objects in a detailed focus.
Mechanical Stage is the platform that holds the slides under the objective lens
for observing.
Condenser is the lens that focusing the light on the object under observation.
When very high powers of 400X are used, condenser lenses are very important.
Presence of condenser lens gives a sharper image as compared to the micro-
scope with no condenser lens.4
Brightness adjustment is the knob that is used for adjusting the bulbs bright-
ness.
Base is a body part of the light microscope that provides basal support for the
microscope.
3
Using the Microscope
Before actually using the light microscope, you need to prepare
the following materials:
Power outlet
Lens paper
Specimen you are going to observe
Microscope slides
Coverslips
Step 3: Plugin the power and turn on the light of the microscope.
Step 4: Rotate the eyepiece until the scanning (4X) objective is aligned with the
light source.
(Warning: Always begin examining slides with the scanning objective)
Step 5: Place a microscope slide of the specimen on the stage and center the
specimen over the hole in the stage.
Step 6: Rotate the coarse adjustment knob until you can see the specimen in
focus.
(Warning: Only use coarse adjustment knob when you are using the 4X
or 10X objective lens.)
Step 7: Rotate the fine adjustment knob to focus the specimen until the image is
clear.
Step 8: Adjust the condenser so that the brightness of the transmitted light pro
vides the best view.
Step 9: Rotate the nose piece to a higher magnification if needed, repeat Step 7
8.
4
Step 10: Rotate the coarse adjustment back to remove the slide when finishing
observing.
Step 11: Clean the slide and prepare for next specimen if needed. Then repeat
Step 510.
Step 12: Turn off the light source, then unplug the microscope.
Step 13: Use cloth to cover the microscope, and store the microscope in a dry,
stable place.
Troubleshooting
FAQs and further questions could be found on our website
http://www.olympus-ims.com/en/
Source
1. History of the light microscope. History of the Microscope, 2010, http://www.history-of-the-microscope.org/