Microscope

 What is a Microscope?

A microscope is a scientific instrument used to observe objects that are too small to be seen with the naked eye. By using magnification, microscopes help scientists, students, and researchers study the structures of cells, microorganisms, and other tiny objects.

In Quran Surah Yunus : 61 

 

... And there is not hidden from your Lord [so much as] the weight of an atom on the earth or in the heaven or [what is] smaller than that or greater than that but that it is in a clear record.

  This verse explain us that Allah SWT is the witness of all human actions and nothing, no matter how small, escapes His knowledge and is recorded in a real book (Lauh Mahfuzh).  

 

History of the Microscope

• The microscope was first developed in the late 16th century by Zacharias Janssen, a Dutch spectacle maker.

• Later improvements were made by scientists such as Anton van Leeuwenhoek, who was the first to observe living microorganisms.

   

Types of Microscopes

1. Light Microscope

   • Uses visible light and glass lenses to magnify images.

   • Can magnify objects up to about 1000x.

   • Commonly used in schools and laboratories to study cells and tissues.

2. Electron Microscope

   • Uses beams of electrons instead of light.

   • Has a much higher magnification and resolution (up to millions of times).

   • Used to study viruses, DNA, and detailed cell structures.

 

Parts of a Light Microscope and Their Functions

• Eyepiece (ocular lens): Used to look through; usually provides 10x magnification.

• Objective lenses: Provide different magnifications (e.g., 4x, 10x, 40x).

• Stage: The platform where the specimen slide is placed.

• Mirror or light source: Provides light to illuminate the specimen.

• Coarse adjustment knob: Used to bring the object into rough focus.

• Fine adjustment knob: Used to sharpen the focus more precisely.

• Arm and base: Support and hold the microscope steady.

   

How to Use a Microscope (Light Microscope)

1. Place the slide on the stage.

2. Use the lowest power objective lens first.

3. Adjust the mirror or light source for sufficient illumination.

4. Use the coarse adjustment knob to focus roughly.

5. Use the fine adjustment knob to obtain a sharp image.

6. Switch to a higher power objective lens if more detail is needed.

    

    

   Pic taken from englishan.com 

    

   TASK 2 
    
   1. Write the parts of the microscope in the following picture.
   2. Arrange the following picture according to the correct steps for using a microscope.