Term | Definition |
Metric System | System of measurement based on powers of ten used by scientists |
Meniscus | a curve in the surface of a molecular substance (water, of course) when it touches another material. |
Base | Supports the microscope |
Low power objective lens | Provides magnification of 10x and is the shortest objective |
High power objective lens | Provides a magnification of 40x and is the longest objective |
Arm | Used to support the microscope when carried...holds the body tube, nose piece, and objective lenses |
Nose piece | Holds the objective lenses and can be turned to increase the magnification |
Body tube | Holds the objective lenses and the ocular lens at the proper distance |
Stage | Supports the specimen or slide |
Stage clips | Clips that hold the slide or specimen in place on the stage |
Diaphragm | Controls the amount of light on the slide or specimen |
Course adjustment knob | Used to focus under low power (moves stage up and down) |
Fine adjustment knob | Used to "sharpen" image under both low and high power (moves stage slightly) |
Ocular lens (eyepiece) | Magnifies the specimen image 10x |
Total magnification | Multiplying the ocular lens 10x by the objective lens |
Wet mount | Used to prevent specimen from falling off the slide |
Coverslip | This piece of glass used to cover and protect a specimen on a microscope slide |
Staining | Used to view specimens that are transparent (clear) |
Methylene blue | Type of staining |
Compound light microscope | Produce magnified images by focusing visible light rays, magnification is about 1000x |
Basic solution (Alkaline solution) | Contains lower concentrations of hydrogen ions and have PH values above 7 |
Acidic solution | Contains higher concentrations of hydrogen ions and have PH levels below 7 |
Neutral solution | Solutions with PH reading around 7 |
Buffer | Weak acids or bases that can react with strong acids or bases to prevent sudden changes in PH |
Field of view ("FOV") | The diameter of the circle of light that you see when looking into a microscope |
Slide | Glass the specimen is placed on |
Electron Microscope | used to view dead specimens in great detail |
Scanning Electron Microscope | used to view great detail of the surface of a cell |
Transmission Electron Microscope PH | used to view interior of a specimen in great detail (Ex: organelles) |