Student Laboratory Activity 1 Microscope
Student Laboratory Activity 1 Microscope
Student Laboratory Activity 1 Microscope
NAME:___________________________________ DATE:________________
Objectives:
Prelab:
1. Study and familiarize yourself with the parts of the microscope. (https://www.ncbionetwork.org/iet/microscope/)
2. Label the parts of the microscope below.
LABORATORY EXERCISE
Materials:
Compound microscope, lens paper, prepared “e” slides
Procedure:
Note — This lab is due at the end of the lab period or as directed by your instructor. Your instructor may modify the
lab based on time.
7. How do you determine which power to use? Always start with the scanning power objective. Use the
scanning objective to get an overview of the slide, then select the specific part of the specimen you would
like to view at a higher magnification and center it in the field of view. Rotate the turret and switch from
the scanning objective to the low power objective to see that part in greater detail. Rotate to the high-
power objective for an even closer view.
2. Rotate the diaphragm until the maximum amount of light is coming through the condenser lens.
3. Place the prepared “e” slide onto the stage and secure it with the clips (usually one clip is sufficient). Orient the
letter “e” right side up and center it on the stage. This is how it should appear on the stage (*Note: you are not yet
looking through the ocular).
4. Use the coarse adjustment knob to gently raise the stage until the scanning-power objective is as close to the
slide as it will go (*Note - do not look through the ocular lens yet ). Go slowly and gently.
5. Now look into the ocular with one eye (your microscope is monocular). Keep the other eye open (both eyes are
usually kept open). While looking through the ocular, slowly turn the coarse adjustment knob so the stage is
lowered away from the objective. You should now see the “e” come into focus. Get as clear an image as possible
then stop. You may now use the fine adjustment to sharpen the image further. (*Note - There is no reason to press
one’s eye against the ocular. Some students who wear glasses may find it better to remove them).
6. Due to the way light is reflected passing through a series of lenses, the image seen in the microscope is actually
flipped two times before you see it.
7. This “flipping” will affect how you perceive things in the field of view which are in motion, e.g. an amoeba or
paramecium. It can also create confusion about how the slide needs to be moved in order to center something in
the field of view.
• Circle the letter “e” as it looks when viewed under your microscope.
8. Looking through the microscope, what do you observe about the letter “e” ?
• Move the slide to the right. Which way does the image move?
• Move the slide to the left. Which way does the image move?
• Move the slide towards you. Which way does the image move?
• Move the slide away from you. Which way does the image move?
8. Find a part of the “e” that you would like to examine more closely. Center the “e” in the field of view by moving
the slide. Your microscope has a pointer in the ocular; the area you want to examine more closely should be at the
tip of the pointer.
9. Gently rotate the nosepiece to bring the low power objective into place. Note that the low power objective is
longer than the scanning objective. Look through the eyepiece.
10. Your microscope is parfocal, which means that once the image is focused under
scanning power, it will stay in focus under low power and then under high power.
You may have to use the fine adjustment knob to sharpen the image further and
adjust the diaphragm to improve the light.
• Draw the “e” as it appears through the microscope under low power in the circle
to the right.
11. Find a part of the “e” that you would like to examine even more closely. Put it in the center of the field of view
by carefully moving the slide. Use the pointer to help center the “e”.
12. Carefully rotate the nosepiece to bring the high power objective into place. Watch from the side to make sure
it clears the slide. It will click into place. If done correctly, there will only be about 1mm between the slide and the
high power objective. Look through the eyepiece.
*Note: Never use the coarse adjustment with the high-power objective in place. The high power objective is
longer than the low power objective, so it can strike the slide and damage the slide and the objective.
13. Use only the fine adjustment knob – slowly turn it back and forth until the “e” comes into sharp focus. You
should be looking through the eyepiece when using the fine adjustment knob. You may need to adjust the
diaphragm to improve the light. The high power lens is able to reveal the imperfections in the print that were not
visible under low power. The microscope magnifies the specimen, but the magnification is only good if the
microscope has adequate resolving power. Resolving power is the ability to produce separate images of close
objects.
• Accurately draw the part of the letter “e” seen under high power in
the circle to the right.
14. To remove the slide, carefully lower the stage as far as it will go. Adjust the nosepiece so the low power
objective is in place. Carefully remove the slide and put it in a safe place. Return your microscope.
1. A tiny organism is swimming from left to right in one field of view. What direction is it really moving on the
slide?
2. A student is looking at a cell under the microscope under low power and then switches to high power. The cell
now appears dark and blurry. Describe what the student should do to improve the image appearance.
Preparing Slides:
A. Cork slides
- Materials:
o a small cork
o plain glass microscope slide
o slide cover slip
o sharp knife or razor blade
o water
- Procedure:
CONCLUSION: