Measurements and Microscopes Lab Module Face-to-Face-Updated

Scientific Method

An orderly process of posing and answering questions about the natural world through repeated and unbiased experiments and observations.

Hypothesis

A tentative explanation for an observation that can be tested by further investigation.

Accuracy

How close a measured value is to the actual (true) value.

Precision

How close the measured values are to each other (repetition).

Independent Variable

The variable that is manipulated or changed in an experiment.

Dependent Variable

The variable that is measured or observed in an experiment.

Kohler Illumination

A technique used to increase both the contrast and resolution of an image in microscopy.

Positive Control

A control that contains the variable for which you are testing and reacts positively to demonstrate the test's ability.

Negative Control

A control that does not contain the variable for which you are searching and does not react in the test.

Metric Units

The standard units used for measurement in science, including meter (m), liter (L), and kilogram (kg).

Field of View

The extent of the observable world that can be seen through the microscope at a given moment.

Total Magnification

Calculated by multiplying the power of the ocular lens (10X) by the power of the objective lens being used.

Dissecting Microscope

A microscope designed to study entire objects in three dimensions at low magnification.

Compound Light Microscope

A type of microscope that uses multiple lenses to magnify small or thinly sliced specimens.

Contrast

The difference in light intensity between the light and dark parts of an image, impacting visibility.

Error

The difference between the experimental value and the accepted value in measurements.

Percent Error

Calculated as (Experimental value - Accepted value) / Accepted value x 100%.