THE COMPOUND LIGHT MICROSCOPE

Instructions:
1. Identify the parts of the microscope (Figure 1) by writing the answers in the first column of
the table on the next page and the corresponding function of each part in the 2nd column.
2. Examine the photo of microscope objective lenses in Figure 2.
3. Based in Figure 2, fill-in Table 2 with the necessary information.

A. Parts and functions of the compound light microscope

Figure 1. Basic Compound Light Microscope

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Table 1. Function of the parts of the compound light microscope
Parts Functions
1. Base It provides support and stability for microscope to keep it upright

2. Light Switch Switch to turn on or turn off the illuminator

3. Brightness Adjustment Adjusts the amount of light that will reach the specimen

4. Illumination The source of light for the microscope

5. Condenser It focuses light from the illuminator to the specimen

6. Mechanical Stage A platform where the specimen slide is placed

7. Fine Adjustment Knob
8. Coarse Adjustment Knob
9. Stage Control
Used to bring the specimen to sharp focus and is used for focusing
when using high power lenses
It is used for focusing by moving the objective lens up and down
and used for initial focusing
Used to move the slide while viewing it

10. Frame (Arm) It acts as support and connects the head to the base

11. Objective Lens Used to magnify the image of the specimen. The lenses range from
4x to 100x magnification power.
12. Nose Piece Holds the objective lenses and is a rotating turret for changing
magnification power.
13. Head It connects the eyepiece to the objective lenses

14. Diopter adjustment Allows to change focus on one eyepiece in order to correct
difference in vision between two eyes
15. Ocular lens or eyepiece Used for looking through to see the specimen
 Figure 2. Microscope objective lenses with varying magnification

Table 2. Characteristics of microscope objective lenses

Scanning Low Power Medium High Power
Power
Dry Dry Dry Immersion oil
Focal length (mm) 40 mm 16 mm 4 mm 1.8 – 2.0 mm
Working distance (mm) 17-20 mm 4-8 mm 0.5-0.7 mm 0.1 mm
Linear magnification (X) 4x 10x 40x 100x
Numerical aperture (N.A.) 0.10 0.25 0.65 1.25
Diameter of front lens (mm) 4.0 mm 2.0 mm 0.4 mm 0.2 mm
Features The shortest Has 10x Ideal for The longest
objective used for magnification observing sharper objective lens and
general view of a power and useful details of used for
specimen for aligning the specimen observing very
microscope fine details of a
specimen