Microscopes

Introduction 

An instrument that is used to extend the size of an object by magnifying it, is known as a microscope. It is basically used to see objects which are not visible from our naked eyes such as cells of plants and animals, nuclei, mitochondria, organelles, atoms, etc. A microscope is an instrument that is used to magnify small objects. Some microscopes can even be used to observe an object at the cellular level, allowing scientists to see the shape of a cell, its nucleus, mitochondria, and other organelles. Despite the fact that the contemporary microscope is composed of numerous components, the lenses are the most crucial. The picture of an object can be amplified and examined in more detail by using the microscope’s lenses to magnify and observe it. A simple light microscope manipulates the way light enters the eye by employing a convex lens, which has two sides that are bent outwards on either side of the lens. In order for a light to reflect off of an object that is being examined under a microscope and pass through the lens, it must bend inward towards the observer’s eye. This gives the impression that the object is larger than it actually is. 

Types of Microscope

Simple microscope

A simple microscope, such as a magnifying glass, magnifies an object using a single lens, whereas a compound microscope magnifies an object using many lenses. It enlarges an object solely through angular magnification, providing the observer with an erect expanded virtual image. Simple magnification devices such as magnifying glasses, loupes, and eyepieces for telescopes and microscopes all make use of a single convex lens or groups of lenses. It is essentially a convex lens with a short focal length that is used to magnify small things.

Compound microscope

The resolution (and thus magnifying power) constraints imposed by a single microscope can be circumvented by employing a compound microscope, in which the image is relayed by two lens arrays. The objective, for example, has a short focal length and is positioned near to the item under examination. It is utilized to create a true image on the front focal plane of the second lens, commonly referred to as the eyepiece or ocular. The eyepiece creates an expanded virtual image that the spectator can view. The magnifying power of a compound microscope is calculated as the product of the objective lens’s magnification and the eyepiece’s magnification.

Electron microscope

The method of electron microscopy (EM) is used to obtain high-resolution images of biological and non-biological material. In biomedical research, it is utilized to determine the precise structure of tissues, cells, organelles, and macromolecular complexes. The high resolution of EM pictures is achieved by lighting them with electrons (which have extremely small wavelengths). To address specific concerns, electron microscopy is employed in concert with a number of ancillary techniques (e.g. thin sectioning, immunolabeling, and negative staining). Electron microscopy images provide critical information on the structural basis of cell activity and illness. There are two primary types of electron microscopes: transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The transmission electron microscope is used to examine extremely thin specimens (tissue sections, molecules, etc.) that allow electrons to pass through and create a projection image.

Stereomicroscope

The stereo, stereoscopic, or dissecting microscope is a type of optical microscope that can be used for low-magnification observation of a sample. This type of microscope usually uses light that is reflected from the surface of an object rather than transmitted through it. The instrument has two separate optical paths with two objectives and eyepieces so that the left and right eyes see things from slightly different angles. This setup gives a three-dimensional view of the sample being looked at. Stereomicroscopy and macro photography work together to record and examine solid samples with complicated surface topography, where a three-dimensional view is needed to see the fine details. In some cases, the stereo microscope is used to look at the surfaces of solid specimens, as well as to do close work like dissection and microsurgery. It can also be used to look at fracture surfaces, as in fractography and forensic engineering. They are used in the manufacturing industry for things like making, inspecting, and controlling quality. In entomology, stereo microscopes are very important.

Conclusion 

A microscope is an instrument that is used to magnify small objects. A simple microscope, such as a magnifying glass, magnifies an object using a single lens. A compound microscope, which enlarges an object solely through angular magnification, provides the observer with an expanded virtual image. There are two primary types of electron microscopes: the transmission electron microscope and the scanning electron microscope. Electron microscopy images provide critical information on the structural basis of cell activity and illness. Stereomicroscopy and macro photography work together to record and examine solid samples with complicated surface topography. In entomology, stereo microscopes are very important.