Compound light microscope

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Compound light microscope
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A Compound Light Microscope

• Allows us to view specimens that are too small to
  be seen with the naked eye
• The specimen must be thin enough for light to
  pass through

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How the microscope works

• Light from the source passes through the
  diaphragm, the stage, and then through the
  specimen
• The light passes through the objective lens
• The enlarged image (picture) is produced
• The image is then magnified again by the ocular
  or eye piece lens
• The final image you see is enlarged (made
  bigger), upside down and backwards

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The letter P through a microscope

p
p
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Using the Microscope

• TO BEGIN
• Always carry the microscope by the arm and
  support the base
• Turn on light
• The specimen slide should have a cover slip.
• Place it on the stage and secure with the stage
  clips
• Start on LOW POWER with the stage in the lowest
  position
• Use the coarse adjustment to bring the specimen
  into view, use the fine adjustment to make the
  specimen clear

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To switch objectives

• Once you are focused, you should center the
  structure that you want to see then move the
  NOSEPIECE to medium power.
• Use the coarse and fine adjustment to bring the
  specimen into clear view.
• Once you have focused and centered in medium
  power, use the NOSEPIECE to move to high power.
• You should only use the fine adjustment to focus
  at high power
• Never use coarse adjustment on high power
  NEVER-EVER-EVER-EVER-EVER-EVER

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When youre finished with the microscope

• Change the objective to the lowest power.
• Lower the stage all the way down using the coarse
  adjustment.
• Turn off the light source, unplug the cord, and
  coil the cord around the base.
• Carefully carry (grasping the arm and supporting
  the base) back to the counter near the storage
  cabinet.
• Follow the directions of your instructor.