A Microscope Light Tutorial
A light microscope, also called an optical microscope, relies on the use of a light source in the base of the microscope to illuminate the specimen on your slide. Learning what each piece does and how to make sure you get the clearest image will help you operate any basic microscope.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Familiarize yourself with all the components of the light microscope. The eyepiece at the top is the cylindrical apparatus that contains the lens you look through; it's known as an ocular lens. The nosepiece, attached to the bottom of the eyepiece, contains up to three different objective lenses of different magnification. The stage is the solid, flat horizontal structure that supports the slide you examine, with "stage clips" to hold the slide in place and a hole in the middle to allow light to filter through. The diaphragm on the bottom of the stage can be turned to close or expand the hole, while the light source at the bottom provides illumination.
The arm that's connected to the nosepiece is used for added support, along with the base at the bottom, when you carry the microscope. Two knobs on the arm, one large and one small, are the coarse and fine adjustment knobs that move the stage up or down to assist with focusing the image.
-
2
Adjust the light source to an appropriate angle and brightness. A good test is to reflect a small, light object like a thread or filament onto a nearby surface. Don't expect a perfect mirror image, but you should be able to see a "halo" of color or fuzz around the edges of the object. Adjust the screws surrounding the light source until the halo is firmly centered on the object being projected -- not being cast off to the left or right of it. This will give you optimal control over how clear the object will appear in your eyepiece and prepare the image for further focusing.
-
-
3
Adjust the coarse adjustment knob until you can see your slide clearly. If necessary, you can further adjust your view with the fine adjustment knob. If you believe your slide is adjusted properly but you still have trouble viewing the specimen, change the amount of light showing through the stage with the diaphragm.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Be careful you don't accidentally poke the slide with the microscope lens to avoid smudging or even damage to the specimen. Some magnification distances require an extremely small amount of space between the lens and the slide, often little more than the thickness of a fingernail, leaving an equally small amount of room for error.
References
- Photo Credit Microscope image by Ellanorah from Fotolia.com
