Learning Activity No.

1
THE COMPOUND AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPE

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Given a compound and an electron microscope, the students can:

Identify the different parts of a compound and electron microscope and learn their functions.
Illustrate a compound and electron microscope and label its parts.
Appreciate the importance of a compound and electron microscope in the laboratory.

LEARNING RESOURCES:

Compound microscope
Electron microscope

LEARNING CONTENT:

PROCEDURES

Identification of the Different Parts of a Compound Microscope

Examine the compound microscope and note the different parts and the uses of these parts.
Make a side view drawing of the microscope showing and labeling the parts.

Identification of the Different Parts of an Electron Microscope

Examine the compound microscope and note the different parts and the uses of these parts.
Make a side view drawing of the microscope showing and labeling the parts.

DATA AND RESULTS: (40 points)

Parts of the Compound Microscope and Its Functions (20 points)

A. Mechanical Parts Descriptions/Functions
1. Base The bottom of the microscope, used for support. ... If your
microscope has a mirror, it is used to reflect light from an external
light source up through the bottom of the stage. Stage with Stage
Clips: The flat platform where you place your slides. Stage clips hold
the slides in place.
2. Arm Supports the tube and connects it to the base. Base: The bottom of
the microscope, used for support. Illuminator: A steady light source
(110 volts) used in place of a mirror. If your microscope has a mirror,
it is used to reflect light from an external light source up through the
bottom of the stage.
3. Stage Stages are often equipped with a mechanical device that holds the
specimen slide in place and can smoothly translate the slide back
and forth as well as from side to side.
4. Pillar It provides support to all the remaining parts of the microscope. 2.
Pillar: A small, strong vertical projection developing from the foot or
base is called pillar.
5. Inclination joint Where the microscope arm connects to the microscope base, there
may be a pin. If so, you can place one hand on the base and with the
other hand grab the arm and rotate it back. It will tilt your microscope
back for more comfortable viewing.
6. Stage clips Stage Clips are used when there is no mechanical stage. The viewer
is required to move the slide manually to view different sections of
the specimen. Aperture is the hole in the stage through which the
base (transmitted) light reaches the stage.
7. Substage The definition of a substage is a device that supports mirrors and
other attachments under the common stage of a compound
microscope.
8. Body tube The microscope body tube separates the objective and the eyepiece
and assures continuous alignment of the optics.
The body tube connects the eyepiece to the objective lenses.
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9. Coarse adjustment
objective lens or stage up and down. It is used for initial focusing.
10. Fine adjustment part of the microscope that is used for focusing finer details of
specimen being viewed. Objectives like low power and high-power
objectives are used with fine Adjustment knob for clearer image in
higher resolution.
11. Revolving nosepiece
12. Draw tube
13. Diaphragm
B. Magnifying Parts
1. Eyepiece or ocular
2. Objectives
a. Scanner objective
b. Low-power objective
c. High- power objective
d. Oil immersion objective
C. Illuminating Parts
1. Mirror
2. Condenser
A rapid control which allows for quick focusing by moving the
This is the part that holds two or more objective lenses and can be
rotated to easily change power. Objective Lenses: Usually you will
find 3 or 4 objective lenses on a microscope. They almost always
consist of 4X, 10X, 40X and 100X powers.
The smaller of the two tubes on a monocular microscope. The
drawtube (if present) carries the ocular, it can be adjusted to control
tube length and so effect corrections for the objective lens.
Diaphragm controls the amount of light reaching the specimen. It is
located above the condenser and below the stage. Most high-quality
microscopes include an Abbe condenser with an iris diaphragm.
Descriptions/Functions
also known as the ocular. this is the part used to look through the
microscope. Its found at the top of the microscope. Its standard
magnification is 10x with an optional eyepiece having magnifications
from 5X – 30X.
objective itself is usually a cylinder containing one or more lenses
that are typically made of glass; its function is to collect light from the
sample. Microscope objectives are characterized by two parameters:
magnification and numerical aperture. The magnification typically
ranges from 4× to 100×.
A scanning objective lens provides the lowest magnification power of
all objective lenses. ... The name “scanning” objective lens comes
from the fact that they provide observers with about enough
magnification for a good overview of the slide, essentially a “scan” of
the slide.
Low power objectives cover a wide field of view and they are useful
for examining large specimens or surveying many smaller
specimens. This objective is useful for aligning the microscope. The
power for the low objective is 10X. Place one of the prepared slides
onto the stage of your microscope.
The high-powered objective lens (also called “high dry” lens) is ideal
for observing fine details within a specimen sample. The total
magnification of a high-power objective lens combined with a 10x
eyepiece is equal to 400x magnification, giving you a very detailed
picture of the specimen in your slide.
oil immersion is a technique used to increase the resolving power of
a microscope. This is achieved by immersing both the objective lens
and the specimen in a transparent oil of high refractive index, thereby
increasing the numerical aperture of the objective lens.
Descriptions/Functions
mirror is used to direct light from the light source to the microscopic
field. The mirror has two sides, one of which is a plane or flat surface
and is used with the substage condenser.
condenser is located beneath the stage and serves to gather
wavefronts from the microscope light source and concentrate them
into a cone of light that illuminates the specimen with uniform
intensity over the entire view field.
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Side View Illustration of a Compound Microscope with Label. (10 points)

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B. Side View Illustration of an Electron Microscope with Label. (10 points)

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OBSERVATIONS/INTERPRETATIONS: (5 points)
Microscope is the most powerful tool for understanding a structure and function of matters, and it is
generally used in biomedical science courses, as well as in diagnostic laboratories. Acknowledge the
imitations and abilities of the microscope is important if one is to get the best results from a
microscopy.
CONCLUSIONS: (5 points)
Microscope functioned to help to view a part of cells and microorganism that are invisible to the naked
eye in more detailed. Furthermore, microscope instrument that produces an enlarged image of small
objects, allowing the observer an extremely close view of minute structures at a scale appropriate for
analysis and examination.

LEARNING REFERENCES:

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~kgoya/microscopy_tutorial/procedure/lowpower.htm

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-inclination-joint-of-a-microscope-What-are-its-functions

https://www.microbehunter.com/why-should-i-not-use-the-coarse-focus-knob-for-high-power-
objectives/

http://helid.digicollection.org/en/d/Jwho02e/8.html#:~:text=The%20mirror%20is%20used%20to,itself
%20acts%20as%20a%20condenser).

https://accu-scope.com/news/what-are-the-different-magnifications-of-objective-lenses/#:~:text=The
%20high%2Dpowered%20objective%20lens,the%20specimen%20in%20your%20slide.

https://microbenotes.com/parts-of-a-microscope/#:~:text=Eyepiece%20%E2%80%93%20also
%20known%20as%20the,having%20magnifications%20from%205X%20%E2%80%93%2030X.

https://www.microscope.com/compound-microscope-parts#:~:text=Iris%20Diaphragm%20controls
%20the%20amount,light%20applied%20to%20the%20specimen.

https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/drawtube#:~:text=Drawtube-,Drawtube,corrections%20for
%20the%20objective%20lens.

http://ib.bioninja.com.au/standard-level/topic-1-cell-biology/12-ultrastructure-of-cells/electron-
microscopy.html#:~:text=Electron%20microscopes%20have%20two%20key,clearer%20and%20more
%20detailed%20images)

https://www.pobschools.org/cms/lib/NY01001456/Centricity/Domain/349/TheMicroscopehowtouse.pdf

https://www.yc.edu/v6/academics/pathway/biodocs/Microscope181.pdf

https://www.olympus-lifescience.com/en/microscope-resource/primer/anatomy/condensers/
#:~:text=The%20substage%20condenser%20gathers%20light,intensity%20over%20the%20entire
%20viewfield.&text=The%20size%20and%20numerical%20aperture,adjustment%20of%20the
%20aperture%20diaphragm.

https://www.microscope.com/compound-microscope-parts#:~:text=Stage%20Clips%20are%20used
%20when,transmitted)%20light%20reaches%20the%20stage.

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STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOME EVALUATION: (50 points)

1. When should the high-power objective be used? the low power objective?

The high-powered objective lens (also called “high dry” lens) is ideal for observing fine
details within a specimen sample. The total magnification of a high-power objective lens combined
with a 10x eyepiece is equal to 400x magnification, giving you a very detailed picture of the
specimen in your slide. Low power objectives cover a wide field of view and they are useful for
examining large specimens or surveying many smaller specimens. This objective is useful for
aligning the microscope. The power for the low objective is 10X. Place one of the prepared slides
onto the stage of your microscope.

2. In finding an objective in the field, why should not the high-power objective be used?

It will crack the slide, if you use direct sunlight to observe your specimen, it may damage
your eyes. If you focus the high-power objectives with the coarse focus knob, then you risk
slamming the objective into the slide, risking the damage of both. Some high-power objectives are
spring-loaded, with a front-part that retracts when touched by the slide. This is a protective
mechanism.

3. Why does the microscope make with an inclination joint (5 points)

The inclination joint of a microscope facilitates the observation giving to the observer a
natural pose; to observe with slightly inclined head. The inclination joint of a microscope is located
at the bottom of the instrument, where the base connects to the arm.

4. How would you carry or handle the microscope when it is to be transferred from the case to your
seat or vice versa?

Hold the microscope with one hand around the arm of the device, and the other hand under
the base. This is the most secure way to hold and walk with the microscope. Avoid touching the
lenses of the microscope. The oil and dirt on your fingers can scratch the glass.

5. What are advantages of electron microscope over a compound microscope?

Electron microscopes have two key advantages when compared to light microscopes: They
have a much higher range of magnification can detect smaller structures. They have a much higher
resolution, can provide clearer and more detailed images. As electrons rather than light waves are
used, it can be used to analyze structures which cannot otherwise be seen.

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6. Enumerate the differences between compound and electron microscope.

In Compound microscope Uses a beam of light to illuminate the object, Internal vacuum is
not required and it Magnifies the object about 2000 times, where as in Electron microscope Uses a
beam of electrons to illuminate the object, Internal vacuum is essential, and it magnifies the object
over 200,000 time.

7. Aside from Biochemistry, identify at least 3 branches of sciences which use a compound or an
electron microscope. Discuss the importance of a microscope in these 4 branches.

Taxonomist- a microscope is important because taxonomist it deals with the study of all organisms.
Some organisms are so small that they can only be seen by a microscope.
Cell biology - The microscope is important because biology mainly deals with the study of cells,
organisms are so small that it can only see by using magnifications of ×2000−×25000, which can
only be achieved by microscope. Cells are too small to be seen with the naked eye.
Botany- Under the microscope these tiny flowers will be huge, Botanical objects are special
curiosity for the beginner in microscopy. To be able to see a cell structure of a plants it needs to use
of a microscope with transmitted light and stronger magnification.
Microscopes opened up a whole dimension in a science, using Microscope’s scientists are able to
discover existence of all microorganisms, learning the structure of cells, and see the smallest parts
of animals, fungi and all plants.

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