| Probably a common apparatus at most high school | | | | microscopic objects or organisms. If you follow popular |
| science laboratories, the compound microscope use | | | | American TV, you would have already seen this in |
| the popular combination of dual lenses and light | | | | shows like House, MD. |
| reflection. In a world becoming infinitesimally smaller in | | | | 3. Magnification Controls. |
| each generation, microscopes of all types, caliber, sizes | | | | Yes, the term sounds impressive but it's also very |
| and capabilities can be found virtually everywhere - | | | | basic. Microscopes, regardless of power and/or grade, |
| from laboratories in high school campuses, colleges, | | | | allow you to control magnification levels with |
| universities, to research and development laboratories | | | | adjustment knobs. Usually, the magnification power is a |
| of pharmaceutical companies and a host of other | | | | factor of the objective lens and the eyepiece. In all |
| manufacturers. | | | | cases, the maximum magnification is 2000x. |
| Getting to Know Microscopes | | | | Practical Applications |
| The compound microscope has more than one lens - | | | | Compound microscopes are used in many fields and |
| usually two - to do its job. The most basic of all types | | | | for various purposes. The type of compound |
| - the simple microscope uses a single lens. Impliedly, it | | | | microscope you need and the magnification levels you |
| offers a better view and more capabilities. Here are | | | | require is determined by what you want to see, the |
| basics of microscopy: | | | | specimen you're using and what you want to do with |
| 1. Light Source. | | | | the images. Incidentally, manufacturers have developed |
| Illumination is a basic requirement in microscopy. Some | | | | a range of microscopes with specific applications and |
| microscopes have mirrors that reflect light from | | | | users in mind. It's now common to find different grades |
| sources outside of the microscope. Others, like the | | | | of one type of microscope. Student-grade compound |
| fluorescence microscope have their own specific | | | | microscopes - probably an inexpensive tool - are |
| sources of illumination, in its case a mercury-vapor | | | | found in virtually all high school laboratories across the |
| lamp or a xenon arc lamp. Those using specific light | | | | globe. Professional-grade compound microscopes can |
| sources are generally more powerful as these lights | | | | be found in research laboratories where you usually |
| are more intense than generic day or lamplights used | | | | find white coats. Fortunately, manufacturers of this |
| by ordinary compound microscopes. | | | | equipment like Meji Techno, Nikon, and Olympus make |
| 2. Objective Lens. | | | | customizing microscopes possible with a range of |
| All microscopes have objective lens - the lens closest | | | | selections that come with various accessories. You |
| to the object under probe; not all microscopes have | | | | can configure your own microscope to suit your |
| eyepieces. Although the common image the word | | | | specific application. |
| conjures is that of an ocular device, there are highly | | | | But wait! That's not all. Working closely with its user |
| advanced microscopes that do not have an eyepiece. | | | | base, these companies are constantly working toward |
| Some microscopes have three eyepieces for normal | | | | improving their existing line with creative and |
| viewing and for mounting a camera, like the trinocular | | | | imaginative input from people who use their products |
| microscope. Instead, there are mounted on cameras | | | | the most. So, have you and your compound |
| and or video displays for a state-of-the-art, 3D view of | | | | microscope met? |