COPY LO:

To understand how the electron

microscope works.
Starter
Write down what
is meant by
resolution
BATS

Describe how electron microscopes work

Explain the differences between transmission

and scanning electron microscopes

Describe the limitations of the transmission

and the scanning electron microscopes
Light microscopes have poor resolution
because of the relatively long wavelength
of light.
B y u s i n g mo r e l e n s e s
microscopes can magnify by a
larger amount, but this doesn't
always mean that more detail
can be seen.
The amount of detail depends
on the resolving power of a
mi cr oscope, whi ch i s t he
smallest separation at which
two separate objects can be
distinguished (or resolved).
The resolving power of a
microscope is ultimately
limited by the
wavelength of light
(400-600nm for visible
light).
To improve the resolving
power a shorter
wavelength of light is
needed, and sometimes
microscopes have blue
filters for this purpose
(because blue has the
shortest wavelength of
visible light).
The Electron Microscope
Developed in 1930s
The electron beam has a very
short wavelength - therefore
it has a high resolving power
The electrons are
negatively charged so the
beam can be focussed using
electromagnets
Modern Electron Microscopes - can
resolve objects that are just 0.1 nm apart
2000 times
better than
light
microscope
Electrons are
absorbed by
molecules in the air so
a near vacuum has to
be created in the
chamber of the
electron microscope
2 Main types of Electron Microscopes
1. The transmission
electron microscope
(TEM)
2. The scanning electron
microscope (SEM)
Transmission Electron Microscope
Using books write
down as many facts
as you can about
the electron
microscope.
What are the main
differences
between the two?
Transmission Electron Microscope
Here the beam passes
through a thin section
of the specimen
Part of the specimen
absorb electrons and
appear dark
An image is produced on a
screen which is photographed
to give a photomicrograph
Resolving power of TEM = 0.1 nm
Limitations:
- The whole system must be in a
vacuum
- A complex staining process is
required
- Specimen must be extremely thin
- Specimen may contain artefacts
Limitations:
- The whole system must be in a
vacuum - no living specimens
- A complex staining process is
required - even then only black and
white
- Specimen must be extremely thin
- Specimen may contain artefacts -
things that result from the way the
specimen is prepared. We cannot
always be sure that what we see on a
photomicrograph really exists in that
form
How might we build
up a 3 D image?
Take a series of
sections through a
specimen
Rat Liver Cells
Scanning Electron Microscope
Same as for
Transmission Electron
Microscope except
specimen does not have
to be so thin
Beam of Electrons are
aimed at the surface
of the specimen and
the specimen scatters
them
A computer analyses it and builds up
a 3D image
Basic SEM has lower
resolving power than
a TEM - about 20nm
(still 10 times better
than a light
microscope)
Ragweed pollen
Summary Questions -
Page 45
Exam Questions
Homework
References
Glenn Toole, Susan Toole (2008). A2 Biology. Cheltenham: Nelson
You Tube clips to watch
1. Revise for Test next week
2.