Compound Light Microscope: Its Features and How to Use It
Compound Light Microscopes are one of the most in-demand types of microscopes. Ranging from research to nature trips, the user’s curiosity can go wherever it wants to go. However, just like any discipline, we suggest that you learn what the basics of compound light microscopy are. Therefore, every time you use your microscope, not only will you have fun, but your scientific experience can also be enhanced.
Light source can illuminate the subject that will be observed. The mirror can be the source of this light. As the light passes through the specimen, the lens that is closer to the object (which is referred to as the objective lens) produces an image that is larger than what you actually see.
The lens that you peer into is a magnifier and this is responsible for producing the enlarged image that you see every time you take a peek. Take this scenario for example. You have a 10x eyepiece but it has a 40x objective. This will then give you a total magnification factor equivalent to 400. Here your multiplication skills are applied.
Then there is the question of having a 100x eyepiece combined with a 100x objective. That is possible. You will have a 100,000 magnification – sounds good right. But sometimes too much is also not good. There will be a problem with the resolution as well as how your eyes perceive the image.
Compound light microscopes have a limit of 2000x magnification. If you go beyond that bar, you could magnify it, but your eyes will not be able to recognize what you are looking at exactly because your brain will have a hard time registering it.
Besides, with that magnification, you can already observe algae, protozoa, bacteria and even human and animal cells. Today’s compound microscopes are able to see molecules, atoms and viruses with hardly any trouble.
Compound Light Microscopes are Delicate
This kind of microscope is very delicate and must always be taken care of especially when it is being transported. Just like any microscope, we suggest that one hand holds the arm (this is the part that connects the microscope’s nosepiece and base) and the other hand supports the microscope’s base. It is also helpful if the microscope is when it is not being used. If it wouldn’t be used for a long period of time, then we suggest that you wrap it in Styrofoam and keep it in the storage.
How to Use a Compound Light Microscope
- Put the microscope on a table and make sure that it’s secure. It should be free from any source of vibration. Have the microscope a foot away from the table’s edge in order to prevent it from accidentally falling. Turn the illumination on and with the equipped mirror, turn it to the direction where the best light source is available. Look through the eyepiece.
- You will then learn a very important skill that will increase how much you enjoy the microscope. Try to view the specimen through the eyepiece with both of your eyes. You may have a monocular or binocular microscope, but it is best that your eyes, both of them, are open while you are observing the specimen.
The technique is this: close one eye and then squint. Think of looking through a monocular microscope. Stay in this position for as long as you possibly can. You will not last that long. Not only is it uncomfortable, it is also tiring. How long do you also think that you can enjoy peering through the lens with a posture that is so uncomfortable for you.
Now, here is what you do next. You open both of your eyes. Put one hand over your eye. Now that’s more comfortable. You will not have a problem doing this longer than the previous one.
Ask yourself this. If your job requires you to spend hours peering through microscopes, would you go for position 1 or position 2? Ask any professional microscopist this question. Chances are, they are already masters of this craft. You can also be like them by training yourself to have both eyes open. It may seem harder at first but sooner or later, your eye shuts out images that are not needed whenever you are using monocular microscopes.
At least, when you use the compound light microscope, you will not have a hard time doing this anymore because your eyes have already adjusted. Compound light microscopes are binocular. At least, you have already practiced how to look into it.
