Types of Microscope

Optical/Light Microscope

Optical/Light Microscope

Uses light to view specimen

High power/Biological Microscope

Other names for optical microscope

Compound Lens Microscope

It has two sets of lenses to obtain higher magnification

(Eyepiece Power) x (Objective Lens Power)

Formula for the total magnification power of a compound microscope

0.25 micrometers

Resolution of optical microscope is limited to this length

Electron Microscope

Uses electrons rather than light to view specimen

0.2 nanometers

Resolution of electron microscope is limited to this length

Heavy metal salt stain

Electron microscopy uses staining through applying this

Scanning electron microscope and Transmission Electron microscope

2 types of electron microscope

Scanning Electron Microscope

In this type of electron microscope, the electrons scan over the surface of the sample, producing a 3D image

Transmission Electron Microscope

In this type of electron microscope, the electrons pass through the specimen, producing a 2D image

Electron-dense and electron-lucent

2 types of specimen when looking through an electron microscope

Electron-dense

This specimen is impermeable to the electron beam of the electron microscope

Dark image

Type of image brough about by electron-dense specimen

Electron-lucent

This specimen is translucent to electrons

Lighter Image

Type of image brought about by electron-lucent specimen

Double contrast method

Standard contrasting technique for electron microscopes

Ultrathin sections with Uranyl Acetate and lead citrate

Used for double contrast method

Scanning Probe Microscope

Used to study atomic surfaces at nanoscale resolution

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscopy

3 Subtypes of Scanning Probe Microscope