Microscopes

Compound Microscopes
A compound microscope is a microscope that uses multiple lenses to enlarge the image of a
sample. Typically, a compound microscope is used for viewing samples at high
magnification (40 - 1000x), which is achieved by the combined effect of two sets of lenses:
the ocular lens (in the eyepiece) and the objective lenses (close to the sample).
The total magnification is calculated by multiplying the magnification of the ocular lens by
the magnification of the objective lens.

Light is passed through the sample (called transmitted light illumination). Larger objects
need to be sliced to allow this to happen efficiently.
Compound microscopes usually include exchangeable objective lenses with different
magnifications (e.g 4x, 10x, 40x and 60x), mounted on a turret, to adjust the magnification.
These microscopes also include a condenser lens and iris diaphragm, which are important
for regulating how light hits the sample.
The vast majority of microscopes have the same 'structural' components:
1. Ocular (eyepiece) lens
2. Objective turret or Revolver (to hold multiple objective lenses)

3. Objective
4. Focus wheel to move the stage
5. Frame
6. Light source, a light or mirror
7. Diaphragm or condenser lens
8. Stage (to hold the sample)
9. Base
10. Phototube (for attaching a camera)