Microscope Basics Lab

Microscope Basics Lab

Use the Sciencesaurus Textbook (page 49-50) and the in class microscopes to complete this lab.

If at home,
use this
page (49) to
complete the diagram.

They are posted in Google Classroom.

In class, use the textbook for better visibility.

Warning:
​Our Microscopes in the classroom look a little different from this.

Labelling

Label all the parts of the microscope

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Fine Focus Knob

Light

Arm

Eye Piece

Diaphragm

base

Objective Lens

Coarse Focus Knob

Stage

Rotating Nosepiece

Use page 51 to read about the magnifying power of each lens.

Then calculate the power of each lens on the next slide.

Use page 50 of the ScienceSaurus to help you answer the following questions.

It will not be in any particular order.

Drag and Drop

To carry a microscope, place one hand on the ​

Placeholder

and one hand under the ​

Placeholder

.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

arm

base

stage

body tube

diaphragm

Drag and Drop

There are three lenses attached to the revolving ​

Placeholder

. The shortest (colored red) is the ​

Placeholder

objective, the yellow lens is the ​

Placeholder

objective, and the longest lens (colored blue) is the ​

Placeholder

objective.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

nosepiece

low

medium

high

Drag and Drop

The microscope should always start on the ​

Placeholder

power so you don't ​

Placeholder

anything. Adjust the ​

Placeholder

all the way ​

Placeholder

, then place your specimen (your slide) on the stage under the ​

Placeholder

.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

low

break

down

slide clips

stage

Drag and Drop

Always adjust the focus with the ​

Placeholder

focus knob first. After you can see the object, make your final adjustments with the ​

Placeholder

focus knob. If it is too dark, turn the dial on the ​

Placeholder

to make the light brighter.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

coarse

fine

diaphragm

Multiple Choice

How do you adjust the amount of light shining through your microscope?

• Turn the coarse focus knob on the side of the microscope

• Spin the eye piece around to a new position

• Change the objective lenses to a different color

• Turn the fine focus knob on the side of the microscope

• Rotate the diaphragm, the large, black, flat dial built into the stage

Drag and Drop

After your object is in ​

Placeholder

, you may now use the ​yellow

Placeholder

and​ blue

Placeholder

powered objective lenses.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

focus

medium

high

Drag and Drop

NEVER use the large ​

Placeholder

focus knob when on the blue high power!!!



You can hit the slide and ​

Placeholder

the slide AND / OR the lens!!!

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

break

coarse

fine

If you are on this slide


and do NOT have a microscope



STOP and go talk to Mrs. G

The circle of light is your field of view. Some microscopes have a black pointer. This is normal.

Place it on your microscope and focus on the low (red) power.

Adjust the knobs to focus the image. If it is always blurry
ASK FOR HELP.

​

Get a piece of TINY graph paper and a clear ruler from the front of the room.

Match

Put the graph paper on your microscope. Focus it on the low (red), medium (yellow), and high (blue) powers.

Show what the graphing paper looked like under each power of the microscope.

(It won't look Exactly like your slide, but use the general trends you see to answer)

Low Power

(Red)

High Power

(Blue)

Medium Power

(Yellow)

• Low Power

  (Red)

• High Power

  (Blue)

• Medium Power

  (Yellow)

Multiple Choice

What happened to your field of view as you moved from low to high power?

• The view increased -

  I could see more of the slide

• The view decreased -

  I could see less of the slide

• The amount of slide I could see stayed the same

If you are on this slide


and STILL do NOT have a microscope



STOP and go talk to Mrs. G

​Use the Microscope - Part 2: Practice

Go to the front of the room and get a slide with a letter e on it.


Use this slide to answer the
following questions

If you aren't sure what is on the
slide, read the label.

Multiple Choice

Set your microscope to the low power (red lens).

When you move the slide to the left, in what direction does the letter “e” appear to move?

• Forwards

• Backwards

• To the Left

• To the Right

Multiple Choice

Set your microscope to the low power (red lens).

How does the “e” move when you move the slide to the right?

• Forwards

• Backwards

• To the Left

• To the Right

Multiple Choice

Set your microscope to the low power (red lens).

How does the “e” move when you move the slide up?

• Down

• Up

• To the right

• To the left

Multiple Choice

Set your microscope to the low power (red lens).

How does the “e” move when you move the slide down?

• Up

• Down

• To the right

• To the left

Match

Set your microscope to the low power (red lens), then the medium (yellow) power, and finally the high (blue) power.

Show what the letter E looked like at different scales.

Medium Power

(yellow)

Just my eyes

Low Power

(red)

High Power

(blue)

• Medium Power

  (yellow)

• Just my eyes

• Low Power

  (red)

• High Power

  (blue)

Multiple Select

Read the attached passage:

Why does a specimen placed under the microscope have to be thin?

Check all that apply.

• So we are able to see clear details in the image

• So that the light can shine through the object

• There are no microscopes that can look at thick objects

• Thick objects are too heavy to put under a microscope

If you are on this slide


and STILL do NOT have a microscope



STOP and go talk to Mrs. G

Use the Microscope - Part 3: Drawing Practice

Make sure to also use your paper worksheet at this time!

The paper worksheet is where you will practice drawing your observations.

Your drawings should be identifiable with some detail. Scribbles are NOT
acceptable drawings.

Not Okay Drawings!!!

Good Drawings!!!

Use the Microscope - Part 3: Drawing Practice

​Get a paper worksheet from the front of the room.

Choose 2 different slides and make a drawing of each.

Don't forget to record the level of magnification!

When you think you are done,
SHOW your drawings to Mrs. G