Calculations Related to the Microscope: Source: www.saskschools.ca/curr_content/biology20/unit1/UNIT1MODULE2LESSON4.

htm 1) Calculating the magnification of a microscope:

Total magnification = magnification of eyepiece x magnification of objective lens Ocular Lens - W10XD (Look for a whole Low Power Medium Power Objective - DIN10 number or a number followed by an X to Objective - DIN4 determine the power. 10X ocular x 10X objective = 100X total 10X ocular x 4X objective = 40X total 2) Measuring the microscope field of view on lowest power:

Place a clear plastic ruler with mm markings on top of the stage of your microscope. Looking through the lowest power obj image. Count how many divisions of the ruler fit across the diameter of the field of view. Multiply the number of divisions field of view in micrometers (m). Record this in m (1mm = 1000 m ).

Magnified at 40X, the lines of the ruler are clearly visible. However, in order to accurately measure the field of view, one line should be moved to the edge of the field of view, as shown in the image to the right.

Now that one of the lines has been moved to the extreme left, it is easier to determine the field of view: 2 mm x 1000 = 2000 m (image @ 40X)

In this example, the field of view would be calculated: 3 mm x 1000 = 3000 m

3)

Calculating the microscope field of view on other powers:

i. Using the above procedure, determine the field of view in micrometers (m) for the lowest power on your microscope.

ii. After you have determined the field of view for low power, use the equation below to mathematically calculate the field o powers:

Microscope Calculations Practice Questions Using the formulas you have just learned, complete each of the following questions.
1. A microscope has an eyepiece lens with a power of 5X. The objective lens being used has a power of 10X. Total magnification = 2. A microscope has an eyepiece lens with a power of 15X. The objective lens being used has a power of 40X Total magnification = 3. A microscope has an eyepiece lens with a power of 10X. The objective lens being used has a power of 10X. Total magnification = 4. Sue observes a clear plastic, millimeter ruler under low power of her microscope. She sees three divisions of the ruler. What would be the field diameter of Sues microscope on low power? (in micrometers ('m') 5. Convert each of the following to micrometers (m).

a) 3.5mm b) 4.0mm c) 1.5 cm d) 0.5 cm

6. The following information is for a microscope which has an eyepiece

lens (ocular lens) with a power of 10X:

Objective Lens Power Field Diameter

low medium high

4X 10X 40X

3500 m ? ?

Using the information provided above, calculate the field diameter for medium and high power.

Microscope Calculations (continued)

4) Estimating the size of an object: You must first calculate the diameter of the field of view for the power of magnification you are using. Looking through the eyepiece, estimate how many times the object will fit across the field of view. Calculate the size of the object using the formula below. Remember to use um

Example:
The image of the amoeba to the left is seen under medium power (100X magnification).

If the diameter of the field of view on low power (40X) for this microscope is 4000 m, first calculate the diameter of the field of view for medium power a follows:

Second, estimate the number of times the object (amoeba) fits across the field of view. Unless otherwise instructed, estimate using the longest dimension of the ob In the image to the left, the amoeba would fit across the field of view approximat times. Because the diameter of the field of view for medium power was calculate 1600 m, the size of the object would be calculated as follows:

Therefore, the approximate length of the amoeba is 800 m or 0.8mm.

The final calculation you will need to use when using the microscope is to calculate the magnification of your drawing. (This is a way of calculating how many times larger your drawing is in relation to the estimated size the object.)
5) Calculating the magnification of your drawing: First calculate the size of the object using the procedure outlined above. Using a ruler, measure the size of your drawing and convert units to um. (In the diagram below a ruler has been superimposed on the drawing to illustrate how to measure. The image in this particular example is 13.7cm or 137mm, which converts to 137 000 m.) Calculate the magnification of your drawing using the formula below the diagram.

This number indicates how many times larger your drawing is relative to the actual size of the object.
This number should appear at the bottom of your drawing.

Calculations Related to the Microscope Anne viewed an amoeba under the high power 40X objective lens on her microscope. She drew the following picture of that amoeba:

She needs to calculate the magnification of her drawing. Other important information includes:

Eyepiece lens = 5X Low Power Objective = 4X Low Power Diameter of Field of View = 4.2 mm Estimate of the number of times object fits across field of view (high power) = 4.5 *Anne used the longest dimension to estimate.

a) Convert the diameter of field of view on low power to um. b) Calculate the total magnification under low power and high power. c) Calculate the diameter of the field of view under high power. d) Calculate the size of the object under high power. e) Measure the size of the drawing. Convert to um. f) Calculate the magnification of Annes drawing.