Pam C. answered • 07/27/21
Masters in Education with 25 years of experience teaching science.
As you use the microscope it will begin to make more sense to you. Just remember that you want to start with the lowest power first and use the coarse adjustment knob to get the specimen focused. Continue to work with the next highest power and use the coarse adjustment knob to view the specimen. Once you have it on the highest power, use your fine adjustment knob to fine tune the specimen. From the image given, it is difficult to determine which lens is which. Just remember, the shortest lens has the least magnification while the longest lens has the greatest magnification. Work on getting the specimen focused with the 10X lens and adjustment knobs, then repeat using the next magnification lens.
If you like the way I guide YOU through the exercise, let me know.
Answer to the Compound Microscope questions:
Notice that the "E" appears to be flipped; this occurs because the lens reflects what you are seeing. Compare what you see with the naked eye to what you see in the first picture. Is it smaller or larger? Notice what happens as you increase the magnification. What does the size of the letter tell you about the magnification that you are using? Does the image get grainer? Compare how much of the "E" you see in the first image to the second and third? Can you still see the whole "E"? How did the image change?
Answer to the Dissecting Microscope questions:
It is important to know that the dissecting microscope uses light reflected from the surface of the specimen rather than using light that is transmitted from the object. This microscope allows you to examine specimens that are 3-D (rocks, fibers, soil, etc.) When looking at the head louse, is the image reversed? How does the size you see compare to the specimen? Does the body look flat or does it have dimension?
