LIGHT MICROSCOPE
ZAKIR ULLAH
LECTURER MLT
SUIT
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A microscope is a magnifying
instrument
Used for visualizing very small
that are not visible to the naked
eye
It have different of lenses, which
magnify an illuminated small
object several times
Light Microscope can be
monocular (having one
eyepiece) or binocular (having
two eyepieces) or multi-head
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Working Principle
The magnified image of the object is first
produced by a lens close to the object
called the objective
This collects light from the specimen and
forms the primary image
A second lens near the eye called the
eyepiece enlarges the primary image,
converting it into one that can enter the
pupil of the eye
The magnification of the objective
multiplied by that of the eyepiece, gives
the total magnification of the image seen
in microscope
Types of Light Microscope 4
1. Simple- Has one lens
Ex: magnifying glass, Leeuwenhoek’s
microscope
2. Compound- Has 2 or more lenses
Ex: Routinely used Biology microscope
(more lenses create better image and better
resolution)
Parts 5
The light microscope has
three basic components:
Eye Piece(Head)
Body
Foot Piece
Parts: Eye piece 6
Used to observe objects under examination
Consists of a system of lenses that further
magnify the image produced by the
objective
Its magnification power is inscribed on it
In binocular microscopes a prism divert the
incident light to both eyepieces equally
The inter-pupillary distance can be adjusted
to the convenience of the observer
Movement of the eyepiece in the holding
tube allows diopter setting for an individual
observer
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Parts: Body
Mechanical Stage
Holds the objects for examination
It has a hole in the middle over which the object is
placed
Exactly underneath the hole is the substage condenser
Stage clips to hold the object in place
In most microscopes, it is provided with a mechanical
device to move the object in both planes (mechanical
stage)
The device is marked on both axes for noting the grid
reference of the field examined
This helps in localizing the field for future examination of
the same object
Parts: Body 8
Sub-stage condenser:
Composed of a system of
lenses and a diaphragm
Controls the intensity of light
adjusting the aperture of the
diaphragm
Controls the size of field
illuminated by moving the
condenser up or down
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Parts: Body
Nose Piece
Body part which holds the objectives
It is a revolving device to hold 4-5 objective lenses of
different magnification
The device helps in bringing the required objective over
the object for examination
An objective comprises a system of lenses which
magnify the image several times
Each objective is marked with a coloured line that
indicates its magnification.
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Parts: Body
Objective Lenses
Scanner - Red line, x4 magnification
Low-power - Yellow line, x10 magnification
Dry, high-power - Blue line, x 40
magnification
Oil immersion - White line, x100 Magnification
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Arm or handle is also
present to hold and support
the body of microscope
Parts: Body Adjustment Knobs present
on arm
• Coarse adjustment knob
• Fine Adjustment knobs
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Parts: Foot Piece 12
It forms the base of the microscope
Provides stability to the body and eyepieces
The light source, with or without its controls, is
usually incorporated in the base
An electric socket is also present
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Important Properties & 14
Terminologies
1. Magnification- the power of the microscope to
enlarge the image of an object
Total mag. = ocular power X objective power
2. Resolution- the power of the microscope to
show detail clearly
Or
the smallest distance (in μm) between two
structural elements that can still be visually
distinguished from each other
Important Properties & 15
Terminologies
Wavelength: the distance between
two corresponding points on adjacent waves
Determines the colour of light
The visible light is a mixture of seven different colours
with wavelength (nm) in the range of 400-750 nm
Amplitude: the vertical displacement of the wave
from the optical axis
Determines the intensity or brightness
Important Properties & 16
Terminologies
Refraction: When light rays pass from the air to a
dense medium, they change their direction and
speed
Light rays, while passing through an object, loose
some of their intensity. This is called absorption
Not all light rays succeed in entering from one
medium to another. Some of these change their
direction This is called diffraction
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Thanks