Parts of Microscopes

6th Grade Science

Intro to
Microscopes

Michigan Benchmarks
Or Why Do I Have to Know This?

Microscope
One of the most important
tools used to study living
things.
Micro means very small
Scope means to look at
Diagram of a typical student light microscope,
showing the parts and the light path

Test Your Knowledge

#1

The word microscope means:

A. Glass eye
B. Small ~ to look at
C. To search for

You are Correct!

The word microscope means
VERY SMALL ~ TO LOOK AT

Oops!
Micro means very small
Scope means to look at
What do you think microphone might
mean?

Basic Microscope Parts

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

Base
Light source
Diaphragm
Stage
Stage clips
Low power
High power
Nosepiece
Arm
Fine Focus
Body Tube
Course Focus
Eyepiece

Guess What?
We will now look at the 13 major parts of the
microscope and what their functions are that
enable us to see very small things.

Introducing the Arm and

Base
Arm
Supports the body tube. Used
to carry the microscope.
Base
Bottom part of the microscope
often shaped like a horseshoe.

Click on the ARM

Click on the Base

Stage and Stage Clips

Stage
Place where the object
you are looking at is
placed (Specimen).
Stage Clips
Holds down the slide
on the stage.

Test your Knowledge

#2
Can you name it?
Click on correct name

#1

Leg

or Arm

#2

Stage or Table

#3

Base

or Place

Great!!
The ARM supports the BODY TUBE and is used to
carry the microscope.

Super!!!
The STAGE is the name
given to where you would
place the slide with the
object you wish to view
more closely.

Awesome !!
You are right. The BASE is located at the
bottom and supports the microscope.

Oops! Lets Try Again

Eyepiece (Ocular Lens)

and Body Tube

Eyepiece
The lens you look through that
magnifies the specimen.

Body Tube
The hollow tube through which
light passes. It holds the lenses
apart.

Click on the Eyepiece

Click on the Body Tube

Course and Fine Focus

Course Focus
Raises or lowers the Body
Tube to focus
Fine Focus
Raises and lowers the
Body Tube and used to
bring objects into focus.

Click on the Course and

Fine Focus Knobs

Test your Knowledge

#3
Click on correct name:
Scope or Eyepiece
Body Tube or Pipe
Control or Fine Focus

Nice Job
Wow! You are Correct!
The EYEPIECE OR OCULAR LENS is the
lens that you look through that magnifies the
specimen.

Wow
You are Correct!
The BODY TUBE is the hollow tube
through which light passes.

Yes!!!
The Course/Fine Focus raises and lowers the
Body Tube. It is used to bring things into focus.

Oops!!
Try Again

Nosepiece
The NOSEPIECE is
the round part that
holds the OBJECTIVE
LENSES apart.

Low Power/High Power

Objective Lenses
Low Power Objective
Magnifies the specimen at a
lower power
High Power Objective
Magnifies the specimen at a
Higher power

Click on the Nosepiece

Click on the Objective

Lenses

Diaphragm and
Light Source
Diaphragm
Changes the amount of light
reaching the objective lenses.
Located under the Stage.
Light Source
Located beneath the Stage
and Diaphragm. Sends light
towards the hole in the stage.

Click on the Diaphragm

Click on the Light

Source

Test Your Knowledge

#4
Can you name it?
Click on the correct part

4.

Ears

or

Nosepiece

5.

Objective
Lens

or Scope

6.

Diaphragm

or

Throat

Super Dooper
The NOSEPIECE hold the OBJECTIVE LENSES apart.

Doing Great
The microscope has several OBJECTIVE
LENSES. Each lens has a different
magnification power.

Correct Again
The DIAPHRAGM
regulates the amount
of light that reaches the
objective lens.
It is located at the bottom
of the microscope.

Try Again
Check the diagram

Great Job!
Well Done
Now that we have
learned the parts lets
see how we can use
the microscope.

Using the Microscope in

10 Steps
Follow these instructions when using the
microscope. Click on each underlined word.
1. To carry the microscope, grasp the

ARM with one hand. Hold the BASE with

your other hand.

10 Steps to
Using the Microscope
2. Adjust the DIAPHRAGM while looking
through the EYEPIECE.
3. Adjust the LIGHT SOURCE (mirror) until
you see the circle of light.

10 Steps to
Using the Microscope
4. Place the slide on the STAGE.
5. Center the SPECIMEN over the small
opening on the STAGE.
6. Secure the slide with the STAGE CLIPS.

10 Steps to
Using the Microscope
7. While looking at the STAGE from the side,
turn the COURSE FOCUS KNOB to lower
the BODY TUBE until the LOW POWER
OBJECTIVE almost touches the slide.

10 Steps to
Using the Microscope
8. While looking through the EYEPIECE, carefully
move the COURSE FOCUS KNOB until the
specimen comes into view.
9. To switch to the HIGH POWER OBJECTIVE
LENS, look at the microscope from the side.

10 Steps to
Using the Microscope
10. Move the NOSEPIECE until the HIGH POWER
OBJECTIVE LENS clicks into place. If the
lens hits the slide, the slide and/or lens might
break.
Turn the FINE FOCUS KNOB until the
specimen comes into focus.

Specimen

EYEPIECE

EYEPIECE

BODY TUBE

ARM

STAGE CLIPS

COURSE FOCUS

COURSE FOCUS

BASE

NOSEPIECE

HIGH POWER
OBJECTIVE LENS

HIGH POWER
OBJECTIVE LENS

LOW POWER
OBJECTIVE LENS

STAGE

STAGE

DIAPHRAGM

LIGHT SOURCE

FINE FOCUS KNOB

Microscope Examples

Interesting Things to
See Using Microscopes
Onion Skin

Cheek Cell

Red Blood Cells Skin Cell

Interesting Fact
This is an antique
German microscope
made in the mid 1920s.

Antique Microscope
Web Site
After completing assignment
come back to link to an
interesting web site on
antique microscopes.

http://www.arsmachina.com/micro_1.ht
m

This image was obtained from the Molecular Expressions website.

Additional Reading
There are many interesting
resources for you to
research on this topic.
Here are just a few books.

Congratulations!!
Certificate
of Completion.
You did a really
great job!

For cool information on How a Microscope Works go to:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/light-microscope1.htm