Types of Microscopes Comparison Chart

Directions: Use your notes, book, and even the internet to fill in the chart below. Then use your information to complete the
Venn Diagrams on the back.

Light Compound Dissecting/ TEM Transmission SEM Scanning

Microscope Stereomicroscope Electron Microscope Electron Microscope
Can it be used to see or Yes Yes No No
study actual living Alive or Dead Alive or Dead Dead Only Dead Only
organisms? Yes or No

Does it produce a visual 2D mainly, sometimes it 3D 2D 3D

image that is 3D or a can seem 3D, especially
flat 2D image? if viewing live
organisms.
Does it allow you to see Inside, although The surface, however Inside, with great Surface
inside the cells or does sometime the surface if the specimen is very detail, even inside cell In great detail awesome
it provide an image of thin or light coated you organelles. to see small animals this
the surface? can see internal organs. way.
What type of Up to 2,000X Usually up to 40X Up to 200,000X 1,500,000X and even
magnification can it At school, At school 10X and 30X Not at school, go to greater, possibly
attain? In other words, 40X/100X/400X college or a museum to 50,000,000X. Not at
how many X ? get trained. school, great images on
internet though
Give examples of the Acceptable responses Acceptable responses Acceptable responses Acceptable responses
type of living things and Plant, Animal, Protist, Insects, worms, leaves, Surface of small Inside cells in great
parts or structures of Bacteria, or Fungi cells inside of fruits, insects and other detail, including inside
living things that can be Nucleus, Cell Wall, Cell mushrooms, your hand or animals, pollen grains, cell organelles with
observed using this Membrane, Chloroplast fingers. Low plant parts. High details. High
Magnification
type of microscope. High Magnification, but Magnification and Magnification and
High Resolution than light
lower resolution Resolution. Resolution.
compound often
 Light
Compound
1. Higher Mag.
2. Lower Resolution Scanning SEM
3. See cell organelles TEM
4. See inside or
through specimens