Microscope - Simple optical microscope

A microscope (Greek: micron = small and scopos = aim) is an instrument for viewing objects that are too small to be seen by the naked or unaided eye. The science of investigating small objects using such an instrument is called microscopy, and the term microscopic means minute or very small, not easily visible with the unaided eye. In other words, requiring a microscope to examine. The most common type of microscope—and the first to be invented—is the optical microscope. This is an optical instrument containing one or more lenses that produce an enlarged image of an ...

Including:

• Microscope - Simple optical microscope
• Microscope - Compound optical microscope
• Microscope - Stereo microscope
• Microscope - Special designs
• Microscope - Optical resolution
• Microscope - History of the microscope
• Microscope - Other types of microscopes

Read more here: » Microscope: Encyclopedia - Microscope

The diagrams below show compound microscopes. In its simplest form—as used by Robert Hooke, for example—the compound microscope would have a single glass lens of short focal length for the objective, and another single glass lens for the eyepiece or ocular. Modern microscopes of this kind are usually more complex, with multiple lens components in both objective and eyepiece assemblies. These multi-component lenses are designed to reduce aberrations, particularly chromatic aberration and spherical aberration. In modern microscopes ...

See also:

Microscope, Microscope - Simple optical microscope, Microscope - Compound optical microscope, Microscope - Stereo microscope, Microscope - Special designs, Microscope - Optical resolution, Microscope - History of the microscope, Microscope - Other types of microscopes

Read more here: » Microscope: Encyclopedia II - Microscope - Compound optical microscope

There are eleven main parts to a microscope. At the top of the microscope there is a cylinder that is called the ocular or eyepiece. That is where you look to see the magnified image. The ocular is connected to the body tube that leads to the main microscope. The hanging cylinders are called the objective lenses and can have many magnifications. They are attached to the nose piece. Right under them is the stage where the item is placed and a diaphragm is attached under the stage to control how much light or what color you view the object wit ...

See also:

Microscope, Microscope - Simple optical microscope, Microscope - Compound optical microscope, Microscope - The Parts of the Microscope, Microscope - Stereo microscope, Microscope - Special designs, Microscope - Optical resolution, Microscope - History of the microscope, Microscope - Other types of microscopes

Read more here: » Microscope: Encyclopedia II - Microscope - The Parts of the Microscope

It is impossible to say who invented the compound microscope. Dutch spectacle-makers Hans Janssen and his son Zacharias Janssen are often said to have invented the first compound microscope in 1590, but this was a declaration by Zacharias Janssen himself halfway through the 17th century. The date is certainly not likely, as it has been shown that Zacharias Janssen actually was just about born in 1590. Another favorite for the title of 'inventor of the microscope' was Galileo Galilei. He developed an occhiolino or compound microscope w ...

See also:

Microscope, Microscope - Simple optical microscope, Microscope - Compound optical microscope, Microscope - The Parts of the Microscope, Microscope - Stereo microscope, Microscope - Special designs, Microscope - Optical resolution, Microscope - History of the microscope, Microscope - Other types of microscopes

Read more here: » Microscope: Encyclopedia II - Microscope - History of the microscope

A lens magnifies by bending light (see refraction). Optical microscopes are restricted in their ability to resolve features by a phenomenon called diffraction which, based on the numerical aperture (NA or AN) of the optical system and the wavelengths of light used (λ), sets a definite limit (d) to the optical resolution. Assuming that optical aberrations are negligible, the resolu ...

See also:

Microscope, Microscope - Simple optical microscope, Microscope - Compound optical microscope, Microscope - The Parts of the Microscope, Microscope - Stereo microscope, Microscope - Special designs, Microscope - Optical resolution, Microscope - History of the microscope, Microscope - Other types of microscopes

Read more here: » Microscope: Encyclopedia II - Microscope - Optical resolution

The stereo, binocular or dissecting microscope is designed differently from the diagrams above, and serves a different purpose. It uses two eyepieces (or sometimes two complete microscopes) to provide slightly different viewing angles to the left and right eyes. In this way it produces a three-dimensional (3-D) visualisation of the sample being examined. The stereo microscope is often used to study the surfaces of solid specimens or to carry out close work such as sorting, dissection, microsurgery, watch-making, small circui ...

See also:

Microscope, Microscope - Simple optical microscope, Microscope - Compound optical microscope, Microscope - The Parts of the Microscope, Microscope - Stereo microscope, Microscope - Special designs, Microscope - Optical resolution, Microscope - History of the microscope, Microscope - Other types of microscopes

Read more here: » Microscope: Encyclopedia II - Microscope - Stereo microscope

A lens magnifies by bending light (see refraction). Optical microscopes are restricted in their ability to resolve features by a phenomenon called diffraction which, based on the numerical aperture (NA or AN) of the optical system and the wavelengths of light used (λ), sets a definite limit (d) to the optical resolution. Assuming that optical aberrations are negligible, the resolu ...

See also:

Microscope, Microscope - Simple optical microscope, Microscope - Compound optical microscope, Microscope - Stereo microscope, Microscope - Special designs, Microscope - Optical resolution, Microscope - History of the microscope, Microscope - Other types of microscopes

Read more here: » Microscope: Encyclopedia II - Microscope - Optical resolution

It is impossible to say who invented the compound microscope. Dutch spectacle-makers Hans Janssen and his son Zacharias Janssen are often said to have invented the first compound microscope in 1590, but this was a declaration by Zacharias Janssen himself halfway through the 17th century. The date is certainly not likely, as it has been shown that Zacharias Janssen actually was just about born in 1590. Another favorite for the title of 'inventor of the microscope' was Galileo Galilei. He developed an occhiolino or compound microscope w ...

See also:

Microscope, Microscope - Simple optical microscope, Microscope - Compound optical microscope, Microscope - Stereo microscope, Microscope - Special designs, Microscope - Optical resolution, Microscope - History of the microscope, Microscope - Other types of microscopes

Read more here: » Microscope: Encyclopedia II - Microscope - History of the microscope