B1 Cell Structure and Transport - The World of the Microscope

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes covering microscopy history, magnification formulas, resolution, and SI unit conversions.

Light microscope

A microscope developed in the mid-17th century that uses a beam of light to form an image, magnifies up to about $\times 2000$, and has a resolving power of about $200\,\text{nm}$.

Electron microscope

An instrument invented in the 1930s that uses a beam of electrons to form an image, magnifies up to about $\times 2000000$, and must be kept in special temperature, pressure, and humidity-controlled rooms.

Transmission electron microscope (TEM)

A type of electron microscope that gives 2D images with very high magnification and resolution, with a resolving power of about $0.2\,\text{nm}$.

Scanning electron microscope (SEM)

A type of electron microscope that gives dramatic 3D images at lower magnifications, with a resolving power of about $10\,\text{nm}$.

Resolution

The ability to distinguish between two separate points; it is the resolving power of a microscope that affects how much detail it can show.

Magnification formula

The mathematical relationship used to calculate magnification: $\text{magnification} = \frac{\text{size of image}}{\text{size of real object}}$.

Size of real object formula

The formula used to calculate the actual size of a specimen under a microscope: $\text{size of real object} = \frac{\text{size of image}}{\text{magnification}}$.

Overall light microscope magnification

The overall magnification calculated by multiplying the magnification of the eyepiece lens by the magnification of the objective lens.

Nanometre (nm)

A unit of distance equal to $1000^{\text{th}}$ of a micrometre, represented in standard form as $1 \times 10^{-9}\,\text{m}$.

Micrometre ($\mu\text{m}$)

A unit of length where $1\,\text{mm} = 1000\,\mu\text{m}$ and $1\,\mu\text{m} = 1000\,\text{nm}$.