Microscope

Definition

A microscope is an optical instrument used to magnify small objects, making them visible to the human eye. It is essential for studying cells and their structures in detail.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The light microscope can magnify objects up to 1,000 times.
2. Electron microscopes provide higher resolution than light microscopes and can magnify up to 2 million times.
3. Microscopes are crucial for observing cell organelles such as the nucleus, mitochondria, and ribosomes.
4. Staining techniques are often used in conjunction with microscopes to enhance contrast of cell components.
5. The invention of the microscope revolutionized biology by allowing scientists to discover microorganisms and study complex cell structures.

Review Questions

• What type of microscope would you use to observe detailed structures within a cell?
• How has the invention of the microscope impacted our understanding of cell biology?
• Why are staining techniques important when using a light microscope?

Related terms

Magnification: The process of enlarging the appearance of an object using lenses.

Resolution: The ability of a microscope to distinguish two close points as separate entities.

Electron Microscope: A type of microscope that uses a beam of electrons to achieve high magnification and resolution.