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Magnification and Resolving power of a light microscope
Magnification is simply the ability to make tiny things appear big. Increase in magnifying power is achieved by using a wide range of objective lens . Magnifying power is always linked to the resolving power . The higher the magnification , the higher the resolving power and hence the closer the details of the specimen can be seen .
the resolving power of an objective lens depends on the numerical aperture (NA) of that objective lens. The following are the usual NA values of the commonly used objective lens
X10 objective lens = NA 0. 25
X20 objective lens = NA 0.45
X40 objective lens = NA 0.65
X100 objective lens = NA 1.25
Immersion Oil
When a beam of light passes from Air Glass Air Glass, It’s normally bent due to refraction property of light . These bending have little effect on low power objective lens i.e. X10, X20, X40 objectives , but it have significant limitation to the amount of light which enter through the high power objective lens i.e. X100 objective lens and consequently its resolving power.
Such bedding can be avoided by replacing the air between the specimen and the lens with an oil Immersion which have the same optical property as that of glass. These makes light to pass in a straight line as though it was passing through the same media i.e. glass all the way. These therefore provides better resolving power.
Chromatic and spherical aberration
Chromatic aberration occurs when a biconcave lens splits whit light into its component colors and in the process blue light is magnified more than red light so that blue comes into focus near to the lens. While spherical aberration is due to the edges of the lens giving slightly higher magnification than its center.
Illumination system of the light microscopes
Good microscopy requires an adequate well-ventilated and controllable illumination system. These can be achieved by using a microscope with an inbuilt illumination. Daylight illumination should be discouraged because its variable, difficult to use and rarely adequate for oil emulsion work.
Glare
Glare in microscopes is simply that inconvenience caused as a result of light reaching the eye which does not go to making up the perfect image but instead only interferes with the image and the ability of the objective to distinguish details in a specimen . To test for glare, remove the eyepiece and check to see if the inside of the tube is illuminated . These indicate presence of glare. Glare can be reduced in the following ways
- Positioning a microscope with an inbuilt illumination in a subdued light i.e. not in front of a window
- Avoid using a large source of illumination than its necessary
- Reducing the condenser glare by reducing the condenser aperture i.e. by adjusting the iris diaphragm when using low power objective
Microscope filters
Filters are special devices in microscopes used to;
- Reduce the intensity of light when it is required
- To increase contrast and resolution
- To transmit light of selected wavelength
- To protect the eyes from injuries caused by UV light