Department of Education

7 National Capital Region

SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE
MARIKINA CITY

Science
Quarter 2 – Module 2:
Focusing under the
Compound Microscope

Haydee M. Melgaso

DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE

 What I Need to Know
This module was designed to help you learn how to use the compound
microscope. It will build your interest to explore even the smallest object that
cannot be seen by our naked eye and be amazed of the beauty of nature.

The module contains one lesson entitled “Focusing under the Compound Microscope”

After going through this module, you are expected to focus specimens
using the compound microscope. S7LT-IIb-2

Specifically, you are expected to:

• compute for the magnifying power of the microscope; and
• observe the appearance of a specimen under the microscope.

What I Know

Read each sentence carefully and encircle the letter of the correct answer.

For numbers 1-4, refer to the image of the microscope. D

1. Which part of the microscope contains a magnifying lens

where you look through to observe the specimen? B
A. A B. B C. C D. D
A
2. Which letter represents the coarse adjustment knob?
A. A B. B C. C D. F E C

3. Which part will you adjust while viewing under HPO if the
cut out small letter “e” you are observing is not clear?
A. A B. B C. C D. E
F
4. Which part supports the entire weight of the microscope?
A. A B. B C. D D. F Photo credit HAYDEE M. MELGASO

5. Which part regulates the amount of light that passes up toward the eyepiece?
A. stage C. diaphragm
B. eyepiece D. revolving nosepiece

6. If a microscope has a 4x ocular lens and a 10x objective, what is the total
magnification of the object being viewed?
A. 4x B. 14x C. 40x D. 400x

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DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
7. Which of the following shows letter “e” as seen under the microscope?

A. B. C. D.

8. Joedee needs to raise the stage to focus the specimen he is studying using the
low power objective. Which part should be adjusted?
A. stage C. diaphragm
B. eyepiece D. coarse adjustment knob

9. Why is it necessary for the specimen to be thinly sliced so it can be observed

under the microscope?
A. The image will be clearer.
B. The image would be bigger.
C. The light could pass through the specimen.
D. The high magnification objective can be used.

10. When the cut out letter “e” is placed on the slide in a normal position, what
would be the image projected under the microscope?
A. inverted B. magnified C. retained D. stayed

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DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
 Focusing under the compound
Lesson
microscope

What’s In
Complete the following steps using the words provided below and write only
the letter of the correct answer.
A. Coarse adjustment B. Diaphragm C. Eyepiece
D. Fine adjustment E. High Power Objective F. Revolving nosepiece
1. With both eyes open, look with one eye through the __________.
2. Slowly turn the ___________ knob counterclockwise to raise the objective until
the image of the object comes into clear focus.
3. To focus under HPO, turn the __________ slowly to shift from LPO to HPO.
4. Look through the eyepiece, if the specimen is not in clear focus, lower the
__________ slowly and carefully until it almost touches slide.
5. With your eye on eyepiece, move the __________ knob on a clockwise direction
until the specimen comes into focus.

What’s New
Find the words that are related to the topic on microscope. You may
encounter most of them while studying how to focus a specimen under the
microscope in this module. The words may be hidden in a diagonal or horizontal
direction.

E Y M P T S P N Y E

I P L A L W E F R T

C D O I G M W L Z A

F D D C I N E R V L

O E F C S M I R P U

C C E U H O J F W P

U P S N E L R C Y I

S P W F T S R C V N

B D R O P P E R I A

R F A F C Q Y I N M

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DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
 What Is It
In order to view a specimen clearly, you must first learn how to properly
operate a microscope. Remember, a specimen is a sample of something; it should
be small and thin for light to pass through it. A glass slide with cover slip is where
you put the specimen to be examined under microscope.

Activity 1: Operation of Microscope

Procedure part I-Microscope
Familiarization
a. Examine the picture of a microscope.
10X b. Locate the numbers on the lenses.
1. What magnification is written on each
lens?

10X Eyepiece Scanner LPO HPO

40X
The total magnification is
determined by multiplying the objective
5X 4X lens with the eyepiece lens.
Photo credit: HAYDEE M. MELGASO For example, if the magnifying power
engraved in the ocular is 10X and that of
the LPO is also 10X,

10X (eyepiece) x 10X (LPO)= 100X

This means that the image of the object

Photo credit: HAYDEE M. MELGASO observed under the LPO can be magnified
Compound Microscope 100X (100 times).

2. What is the total magnification of the

following objectives?
Scanning objective? _______
Low power objective? _______
High power objective? _______
Check this out!

If you have internet connection at home, check the link and learn. If NONE,
proceed to the next activity

https://youtu.be/84hKLaOvumY

https://digital.scetv.org/knowitall/hobbyshop/Microscope/index.html

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DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
 Procedure Part II- Making a Wet Mount Slide

Photo Credit: HAYDEE M. MELGASO

a. Make a wet mount by cutting a
small letter “e” from a newspaper and
put it on a drop of water in a glass
slide.
Photo Credit: HAYDEE M. MELGASO
b. Slowly drop a cover slip over the
specimen.

c. Place the
slide on the
stage so that
the specimen is
placed in the
middle of the
hole below.
Photo Credit: HAYDEE M. MELGASO

d. While looking through the side of the

microscope, lower the LPO by rotating the
coarse adjustment to bring the objective as
close as possible to the glass slide. Always
start examining the slide using the scanner
or the LPO.
Photo Credit: HAYDEE M. MELGASO

e. Adjust
the mirror
so that the
maximum
amount of
light comes
through the
hole in the Photo Credit: HAYDEE M. MELGASO

stage.
Photo Credit: HAYDEE M. MELGASO
DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
f. Carefully focus the image by slowly
rotating the coarse adjustment.
Sharpen the image using the fine
adjustment.
5
 Take note that if we place
the cutout of letter “e” on
Glass slide
the slide right side up, the
microscope reverses the
Cover slip image.

Cut letter “e”

Photo Credit: HAYDEE M. MELGASO

Prepared e slide

40x 100x 400x

Photo credit: HAYDEE M. MELGASO Photo credit: HAYDEE M. MELGASO Photo credit: HAYDEE M. MELGASO

Scanner LPO HPO

A B C

Focused “e “slide under microscope

GUIDE QUESTIONS:

1. Describe how the letter “e” appears under the following objectives.

Scanner LPO HPO

2. Compare the depth of focused in HPO with that of the LPO.

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DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
 What’s More

Activity 2- Viewing other Specimen

Procedure Part III

Viewing a prepared wet mounted ampalaya leaf
a. Place a drop of water on a clean slide.
b. Place an Ampalaya (Momordica charantia) leaf on the drop of water.
c. Place a cover slip.
d. Refer to procedure part II for the illustration.

Study the images and answer the guide questions below.

Photo Credit: HAYDEE M. MELGAS0 Photo Credit: HAYDEE M. MELGASO Photo Credit: HAYDEE M. MELGASO

O A O B C
Focused Ampalaya Leaf (Momordica charantia)Specimen

GUIDE QUESTIONS

a. Which among the images was focused in the following objectives.

HPO: ___ LPO: ___ Scanner: ___ (A, B, or C)

b. . How did the focus specimen appear under the following objectives?

Scanner LPO HPO

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DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
Activity 3: Microorganism
We can view objects more detailed when viewing something using a hand
lens and those things looked bigger. But there are also some tiny (small or minute)
organisms that cannot be seen by our naked eye, called microorganisms. A
microorganism is defined as a living thing that is so small that it must be viewed
with a microscope.

Microscopic Images of Some Microorganisms

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tessawatson/384591931/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/niaid/5149398656/
Millions of yeast cells viewed under the microscope. Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria which cause
Tuberculosis (TB) in people .

https://www.siyavula.com/read/science/grade-8/microorganisms/03- Image by Thor Deichmann from Pixabay

microorganisms
Corona Virus
A protist living in freshwater.

The following images show different views of the same object. Some are
shown with what we would see with the naked eye or the macroscopic view.
Microscopic views are how we view the objects under a microscope.
Now, identify which is the microscopic view and which is the macroscopic view
from the pictures below. Write the correct answers on the space provided below.

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DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
Example: Cotton microscopic: A macroscopic: B

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/corematerials/4419087937/
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bptakoma/3019741976/
A B

1. Beetle microscopic: _____ macroscopic: ______

Source:http://www.flickr.com/photos/dullhunk/5517978496/ Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dluogs/5048733301/

A B
2. White Bread microscopic: _____ macroscopic: ______

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nsalt/3116061949/ Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/core-materials/4419088363/

A B

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DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
3. Onion Skin microscopic: _____ macroscopic: ______

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dottiemae/5188013294/ Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/austinevan/5288918276/

A B

What I Have Learned

The sentences below are the ten steps on how to focus a specimen under a
microscope. Arrange the following steps from 1-10 according to their proper order.

____ Hold in place using the stage clips.

____ Place the mounted specimen on the stage.
____ With both eyes open, look with one eye through the eyepiece.
____ Set the LPO in line with the eyepiece. Open the iris diaphragm.
____ To focus under HPO, turn the revolving nosepiece slowly to shift from LPO to HPO.
____ Adjust the mirror so that it faces the light source; then set it at an angle to
reflect light towards the stage.
____ With your eye on the eyepiece, move the fine adjustment knob on a clockwise
direction until the specimen comes into focus.
____ Slowly turn the coarse adjustment knob counterclockwise to raise the
objective until the image of the object comes into clear focus.
____ Look through the eyepiece, if the specimen is not in clear focus, lower the
HPO slowly and carefully until it almost touches the slide.
____ While looking at the side of microscope, carefully turn clockwise the coarse
adjustment knob to lower the body tube until the LPO is about 1 mm from the
specimen.

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DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
 What I Can Do
Here are some common problems met when focusing a specimen under
microscope with list of possible solutions that could help you fill out the table
below.

List of possible solutions to common problems:

A. Adjust the diaphragm; make sure your light is on.
B. Open both eyes when looking at the eyepiece
C. You probably don't have your objective fully clicked into place.
D. Remember the steps, if you can't focus under scanning and then low power,
you won't be able to focus anything under high power.
E. Your lens is dirty. Use lens paper, and only lens paper to carefully clean
the objective and ocular lens. The ocular lens can be removed to clean the
inside.

Copy the table and write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.
Common Problems Solution
1. Image is too dark!
2. There's a spot in my viewing field, even when I move
the slide the spot stays in the same place!
3. I can't see anything under high power!
4. Only half of my viewing field is lit, it looks like there's
a half-moon in there!

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DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
 Additional Activities
Write the correct word that corresponds to each description in the boxes below.
I L L U M I
Down
2. Name the category/group of the
parts of microscope that makes an
object look larger.
3. It is the stable structure which the
microscope firmly rests on.
4. Lenses that are usually attached to
the revolving nosepiece
5. The platform which the slide
containing the specimen is held in
place.
7. The part where a viewer holds the
microscope.
DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
N A T I N G
Across
1. Name the category/group of the
parts of microscope that provide light.
4. Detachable short cylinder located on
top of the draw tube through which
one views the specimen
6. Category of parts that support the
microscope and the object being
examined
8. It is an adjustment knob that is
used for faster movement when
focusing the LPO.
9. Used to regulate the intensity of
light that enters the condenser
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 Posttest
Read each sentence carefully and encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. When focusing a specimen, which magnification of the lens would you use to
find the specimen on the slide?
A. eyepiece and 4X C. eyepiece and 40X
B. eyepiece and 10X D. eyepiece and 400X

2. Which set of lenses would you use to examine the details of a specimen?
A. eyepiece and 4X C. eyepiece and 400X
B. eyepiece and 10X D. none of the answers are correct

3. When the cut out of letter “e” is placed on the slide right side up, what would be
the image under the microscope?
A. inverted B. remained C. righted D. stayed

4. What part of the microscope can increase or decrease the amount of light
entering the stage opening?
A. stage B. eyepiece C. diaphragm D. revolving nosepiece

5. If a microscope has a 4x ocular lens and a 10x objective, what is the

microscope's total magnification?
A. 4x B. 14x C. 40x D. 400x

6. What must be rotated in order to switch from low to high power objective?
A. stage C. diaphragm
B. eyepiece D. revolving nosepiece

7. What regulates the amount of light that passes toward the eyepiece?
A. stage C. diaphragm
B. eyepiece D. revolving nosepiece

8. Why it is necessary for the specimen to be thin so it can be observed under the
microscope?
A. The image will be clearer.
B. The image would be bigger.
C. The light could pass through the specimen.
D. The high magnification objective can be used.

9. When you view a specimen through an objective lens that is magnified 40X,
what is the actual magnification?
A. 40X B. 44X C. 54X D. 400X

10. Which of the following shows letter “e” as seen under the microscope?

A. B. C. D.

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DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
 Answer Key
Science 7 Quarter 2 Focus on the Microscope

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DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
Biologydictionary.net Editors. “Microorganism.” Biology Dictionary.
Biologydictionary.net, April 27, 2017.
https://biologydictionary.net/microorganism/.

Difference between a Simple and Compound Microscope.Updated on February 14,

2018 accessed July 30,2020: https://theydiffer.com/difference-between-a-simple-
and-compound-microscope/

Discovery Education, Puzzle Maker.Accessed August 30,

2020.http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/

How to Use a Microscope.Jun 26, 2013.Accessed July 30,2020:

https://youtu.be/84hKLaOvumY

How to use microscope. Accesssed July 30, 2020

https://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/microscope_use.html

Microscope | Hobby Shop. Accessed July 30,2020

https://digital.scetv.org/knowitall/hobbyshop/Microscope/index.html
Muskopf, Shannan. The Biology Corner. Shannan Muskopf, 2005.

Microorganism.Accessed August 28, 2020.

https://biologydictionary.net/microorganism/#streptococcus-bacteria

Types of Microorganism.Accessed August 28, 2020.

https://www.siyavula.com/read/science/grade-8/microorganisms/03-
microorganisms

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DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
 Development Team of the Module
Writer: Haydee M. Melgaso

Content Editors: Marites R. Del Valle

Romencita D. Gollayan
Jessica S. Mateo

Language Editor: Kristine Joyce G. Montejo

Catherine C. Paningbatan
Reviewers: PNU External Validator
Cover illustrator: May Anne G. Pasco
Layout Artist: Jemwel Dela Paz
Management Team:
Sheryll T. Gayola
Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
OIC, Office of the Schools Division Superintendent

Elisa O. Cerveza
Chief, CID
OIC, Office of the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

Jessica S. Mateo
EPS-Science

Ivy Coney A. Gamatero

EPS – LRMS

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DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE