Parts of Microscopes

6th Grade Science

Intro to Microscopes

Barbara Bloemers

Michigan BenchmarksOr Why Do I Have to Know This?

Microscope

One of the most important

tools used to study living

things.

“Micro” means very small

“Scope” means to look at

Diagram of a typical student light microscope, showing the parts and the light path

Test Your Knowledge#1

The word “microscope” means:

A. Glass eye

B. Small ~ to look at

C. To search for

You are Correct!

The word “microscope” meansVERY SMALL ~ TO LOOK AT

Oops!

Micro means “very small”

Scope means “to look at”

What do you think microphone might

mean?

Basic Microscope Parts

1. Base2. Light source3. Diaphragm4. Stage5. Stage clips6. Low power 7. High power8. Nosepiece9. Arm10. Fine Focus11. Body Tube12. Course Focus13. Eyepiece

Guess What?

We will now look at the 13 major parts of the

microscope and what their functions are that

enable us to see very small things.

Introducing the Arm and Base

Arm

Supports the body tube. Used to carry the microscope.

Base

Bottom part of the microscope often shaped like a horseshoe.

Click on the ARM

Click on the Base

Stage and Stage Clips

Stage

Place where the object

you are looking at is

placed (Specimen).

Stage Clips

Holds down the slide

on the stage.

Test your Knowledge #2

#1 Leg or Arm

#2 Stage or Table

#3 Base or Place

Can you name it?

Click on correct name

Great!!

The ARM supports the BODY TUBE and is used to carry the microscope.

Super!!!

The STAGE is the name

given to where you would

place the slide with the

object you wish to view

more closely.

Awesome !!

You are right. The BASE is located at the

bottom and supports the microscope.

Oops! Let’s Try Again

Eyepiece (Ocular Lens) and Body Tube

EyepieceThe lens you look through that

magnifies the specimen.

Body TubeThe hollow tube through which

light passes. It holds the lenses

apart.

Click on the Eyepiece

Click on the Body Tube

Course and Fine Focus

Course Focus

Raises or lowers the Body

Tube to focus

Fine Focus

Raises and lowers the

Body Tube and used to

bring objects into focus.

Click on the Course and Fine Focus Knobs

Test your Knowledge #3

Click on correct name:

Scope or Eyepiece

Body Tube or Pipe

Control or Fine Focus

Nice Job

Wow! You are Correct! The EYEPIECE OR OCULAR LENS is the

lens that you look through that magnifies the specimen.

WowYou are Correct!

The BODY TUBE is the hollow tube

through which light passes.

Yes!!!

The Course/Fine Focus raises and lowers the

Body Tube. It is used to bring things into focus.

Oops!!

Try Again

Nosepiece

The NOSEPIECE isthe round part thatholds the OBJECTIVELENSES apart.

Low Power/High PowerObjective Lenses

Low Power Objective

Magnifies the specimen at a

lower power

High Power Objective

Magnifies the specimen at a

Higher power

Click on the Nosepiece

Click on the Objective Lenses

Diaphragm and Light Source

DiaphragmChanges the amount of light reaching the objective lenses.Located under the Stage.

Light SourceLocated beneath the Stageand Diaphragm. Sends lighttowards the hole in the stage.

Click on the Diaphragm

Click on the Light Source

Test Your Knowledge#4

4. Ears or Nosepiece

5. Objective or Scope Lens

6. Diaphragm or Throat

Can you name it?

Click on the correct part

Super Dooper

The NOSEPIECE hold the OBJECTIVE LENSES apart.

Doing GreatThe microscope has several OBJECTIVE

LENSES. Each lens has a different magnification power.

Correct AgainThe DIAPHRAGM

regulates the amount

of light that reaches the

objective lens.

It is located at the bottom

of the microscope.

Try Again

Check the diagram

                                  

Great Job!Well Done

Now that we have

learned the parts let’s

see how we can use

the microscope.

Follow these instructions when using the

microscope. Click on each underlined word.

1. To carry the microscope, grasp the

ARM with one hand. Hold the BASE with your other hand.

Using the Microscope in 10 Steps

10 Steps toUsing the Microscope

2. Adjust the DIAPHRAGM while looking

through the EYEPIECE.

3. Adjust the LIGHT SOURCE (mirror) until you see the circle of light.

10 Steps to Using the Microscope

4. Place the slide on the STAGE.

5. Center the SPECIMEN over the small

opening on the STAGE.

6. Secure the slide with the STAGE CLIPS.

10 Steps to Using the Microscope

7. While looking at the STAGE from the side,

turn the COURSE FOCUS KNOB to lower

the BODY TUBE until the LOW POWER

OBJECTIVE almost touches the slide.

10 Steps to Using the Microscope

8. While looking through the EYEPIECE, carefully

move the COURSE FOCUS KNOB until the specimen comes into view.

9. To switch to the HIGH POWER OBJECTIVE

LENS, look at the microscope from the side.

10 Steps to Using the Microscope

10. Move the NOSEPIECE until the HIGH POWER

OBJECTIVE LENS “clicks” into place. If the

lens hits the slide, the slide and/or lens might

break.

Turn the FINE FOCUS KNOB until the

specimen comes into focus.

Specimen

EYEPIECE

EYEPIECE

BODY TUBE

ARM

STAGE CLIPS

COURSE FOCUS

COURSE FOCUS

BASE

NOSEPIECE

HIGH POWER OBJECTIVE LENS

HIGH POWER OBJECTIVE LENS

LOW POWER OBJECTIVE LENS

STAGE

STAGE

DIAPHRAGM

LIGHT SOURCE

FINE FOCUS KNOB

Microscope Examples

Interesting Things to See Using Microscopes

Onion Skin Cheek Cell

Red Blood Cells Skin Cell

Interesting Fact

This is an antique

German microscope

made in the mid 1920’s.

Antique Microscope Web Site

After completing assignment

come back to link to an

interesting web site on

antique microscopes.

http://www.arsmachina.com/micro_1.htm

 

This image was obtained from the Molecular Expressions website.

Additional Reading

There are many interesting

resources for you to

research on this topic.

Here are just a few books.

Certificateof Completion.You did a really

great job!

Congratulations!!

For cool information on How a Microscope Works go to:http://science.howstuffworks.com/light-microscope1.htm