Working of Compound Microscope

A compound microscope uses a combination of lenses (the first is the objective lens and the other is the ocular lens) along with a light source for producing a highly magnified image of the sample.

The objective lens produces a real magnified image, which is also the first image of the sample. This image is again magnified by the ocular lens, which provides a more sharp image, this is the final image of the sample. The image produced by the ocular lens is virtual and is observed by the eye through the eyepiece. The light produced by the light sources, enters the eye of the observer by passing through the two lenses, resulting in a highly magnified and bright image, this is the reason the compound microscope is also known as a Bright-field microscope.

Read more about Refraction of Light.

Compound Microscope

Compound Microscope is a type of microscope that is widely used for research and scientific purposes to observe minute objects that are not else visible through our naked eye. Compound Microscope is an incredible tool that helps us to explore the microscopic world in a better way.

Compound Microscope uses two or more lenses to provide a more detailed and magnified image of the sample under observation. Not only it is an extraordinary tool it has a captivating history too. Compound Microscope was developed by a father-son duo Hans Janssen and Zacharias Janssen in the late 1590s, they were the first to use a combination of lenses to create a magnified image of an object. Nowadays it is widely used in various research centers, laboratories, and fields like biology, medicine, etc.

In this article, we will focus on the compound microscope, its components, its usage, and much more. So, Let’s dig more into this but first understand what a microscope is.

Table of Content

  • What is a Compound Microscope?
  • Diagram of a Compound Microscope
  • Parts of the Compound Microscope
  • Working of Compound Microscope
  • Simple and Compound Microscope
  • Electron vs Compound Microscope

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What is a Microscope?

A microscope is a device that is used to magnify tiny objects for detailed examination. The word microscope is made up of two words “micro” which means small and “scope” which means to examine or observe. So, a microscope is an equipment used for observing and examining microscopic features of an object (even cells). There are many kinds of microscopes, out of which the most common are a Simple Microscope and a Compound Microscope....

What is a Compound Microscope?

A compound microscope is a device used to magnify an object extensively using a combination of lenses. It uses two sets of lenses for higher magnification and also provides a two-dimensional image of the object. It is another type of optical microscope (the first one being a ‘simple microscope’). It provides an image at high resolution, generally, its optical resolution range is about 40x to 1000x....

Diagram of a Compound Microscope

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Characteristics of a Compound Microscope

Various characteristics of a Compound Microscope are:...

Parts of the Compound Microscope

The compound microscope has a variety of components (or parts). They are divided into two types:...

Working of Compound Microscope

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Precautions while using Compound Microscope

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What is an Optical Compound Microscope?

The word ‘optical’ refers to the use of visible light, hence a compound microscope that uses visible light to illuminate a sample is known as an Optical Compound Microscope. It is also known as a light compound microscope. It also uses a combination of lenses to increase the magnification and resolution of the resultant image of the sample, this includes an objective lens which is placed above the sample, and an ocular lens which is used by the observer to examine the sample. Generally, an optical microscope can provide a magnification up to 1000x or higher. An optical compound microscope can also provide a high resolution of about 0.2 micrometers i.e. it can distinguish between two points that are at least 0.2 micrometers apart....

Simple and Compound Microscope

A Simple Microscope is a microscope that uses a single convex lens, also called a magnifying glass to provide a magnified image of the sample. It produces an erect and enlarged image of the object. In contrast, a Compound Microscope uses multiple lenses to provide a better magnified image of the sample. A compound microscope also consists of some additional features like illumination, adjustable focus, condenser, etc....

Electron vs Compound Microscope

An electron microscope is a high-powered scientific instrument that uses a beam of electrons as a source of illumination. This results in more magnified and higher resolution image as compared to the image formed by a compound microscope which uses a source of light for its illumination. The electrons have a much lesser wavelength than the visible light hence it helps in providing a much finer magnification of the specimen than a compound microscope....

Applications of Compound Microscope

Compound Microscope are:...

Merits of Compound Microscope

Compound Microscope have different merits over another kind of microscopes, some of these are:...

Demerits of Compound Microscope

Some of the most common disadvantages of Compound Microscope are:...

Compound Microscope – FAQs

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