Term | Definition |
Compound light microscope | a microscope that uses light to illuminate a specimen that is then magnified by two lenses |
Eyepiece (ocular lens) | the part of a compound light microscope that magnifies an image, usually 10 times, also called an ocular lens |
Objective lens | the part of a compound light microscope that is located directly above the specimen and that magnifies the image of the specimen |
Stage | a platform of a compound light microscope that supports the slide holding the specimen |
Light source | a light bulb that provides light for viewing the image; it can either be light reflected from a mirror or an incandescent light from a small lamp |
Magnification | the increase of an object's apparent size by using lenses or mirrors |
Nosepiece | the part of a compound light microscope that holds the objective lenses in place above the specimen |
Resolution | in microscopes, the ability to form images with fine detail |
Scanning electron microscope (SEM) | a microscope that produces an enlarged, three-dimensional image of an object by using a beam of electrons rather than light |
Transmission electron microscope (TEM) | a microscope that transmits a beam of electrons through a very thin slice of specimen and that can magnify up to 200,000 times |
Metric system | a decimal-based standard system of measurement that is used by scientists |
Base unit | one of the fundamental units of measurement that describes length, mass, time, and other quantities and from which other units are derived |