Microscope

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Microscope

This lesson aligns with NGSS PS4.C

Introduction

With the help of a microscope, we are able to see objects, including cells or microorganisms, which can't be visible through the human eye alone. The microscope has at least one or two lenses that magnify the picture of an item. By using multiple lenses, the size of an object can be expanded to make it visible to normal eyes. In this article, we will study microscopes, the use of lenses, and applications of microscopes in various fields of life.

What is a Microscope?

The microscope is an instrument that helps to magnify small objects with the help of lenses. Microscopes, including compound microscopes, have enabled scientists to observe tiny things at the cellular level and to see the shape of a cell, nucleus, and other organelles. It has also enabled human beings to visualize microorganisms like bacteria or other fungi, and through an electron microscope, human beings are now able to visualize viruses as well.

The expanding or magnifying power of a microscope for an object is a dimensionless ratio. This ratio expresses how many times the item appears to be enlarged under examination. A typical term is used like 10x, which means the image is ten times enlarged from the actual size of the object. The smallest detail of an item that a microscope may examine is known as the resolution of the microscope. Resolution The linear units used to represent resolution are typically micrometers.

Role of Lens In Microscope

Lenses are made up of glass, which is an extraordinary material. Glass, being a transparent material, can allow light to pass through, but it also has the power to bend and focus light. This combination of glass properties has led to the foundation for creating lenses. Lenses are now the central component of optical instruments, including microscopes.

Types of Lenses Used in Microscopy

There are two main types of lenses used in microscopy.

Converging Lenses

The centre of such lenses is thicker, and the whole corners are thinner. This structure of such a lens enables it to bring parallel rays of light to a centre point called the focal point in order to provide an accurate and inverted image.

Diverging Lens

Contrary to converging lenses, the centre of a diverging lens is thinner, while the edges are thicker. Such a lens helps to spread out incoming light beams to create a virtual upright image.

Significance of the Microscope in Modern World

Microscopes have extensive use in various fields like material analysis, scientific research, medical diagnosis, and much more. Here, we will discuss more applications of microscopes in the modern world.

Medicine and Biology

Microscopes have paved the way for various biological Research and medical diagnoses as they help in the examination of cells, tissues, and other microorganisms. It is helping us to study the structure of tissues, which helps in the diagnosis of various medical conditions in Histology. In microbiology, microscopes have allowed scientists to observe and analyze all kinds of microorganisms, including viruses.

Nanotechnology

In today's modern world, nanotechnology has involved microscopes for better visualization and manipulation of tiny objects and structures. Today, nanotechnology uses a tool which is known as Atomic Force Microscopy for developing nanomaterials and nanodevices by providing atomic or molecular resolution pictures.

Digital Microscope

A digital microscope, as compared to a classical microscope, uses a digital camera. It captures images and shows all the small objects to the computer that the naked eye cannot visualize. This technology is helping in various industries, from inspecting crops in agriculture to PCBs in electronics.

Quality Control

Microscopes have a great use in manufacturing and to ensure the quality and reliability of different products in different industries. Semiconductor industries have microscopes that have employed the use of this technology to inspect and analyze integrated circuits and semiconductor components. While in the pharmaceutical industry, microscopy is an essential element to examine the composition and quality of the drug.

Summary

Microscopes have enabled the human eye to visualize those microorganisms or objects that are not visible to the naked eye.
Microscopes, with the use of lenses, can magnify the image to different extents, which is called resolution. The minimum resolution a microscope can create is 10x, which means ten times the original object has magnified.
In a microscope, two types of lenses are used: Converging and Diverging lenses. One lens helps to bring light together to a focal point and makes an actual image or inverted image in the microscope, while the diverging lens spreads out the incoming light.
Microscopes have revolutionized the field of science and medicine, and the diagnostic microscope is a Testament to human curiosity that allows us to see the Enrique beauty of the microscopic world.

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