The Compound Microscope: A Closer Look at the Microscopic World
by Yuvi K - December 17, 2023
A Closer Look at the Microscopic World with Compound Microscope
As human beings, we can only understand the world around us by using our five senses. As much as we rely on our sight to explore the macroscopic world, we have the power to use special tools to explore the microscopic world that is too small to be seen with the naked eye.
A compound microscope is the perfect tool to learn about such miniscule entities. It helps us observe objects like cells, bacteria, insects, and many other microscopic things. With a compound microscope, we can study the fine details of cells and other minuscule matters in the microscopic world.
What is a Compound Microscope?
A compound microscope (एक संयुक्त दृश्यता यंत्र) is an optical device with multiple lenses that combine to magnify objects that are too small for the human eye to see. It is composed of two sets of lenses, an objective lens and an eyepiece lens. This type of microscope is used mainly in research laboratories and educational institutions.
When an object, like a protozoa, is placed on a microscope slide and placed under the microscope, the image of the object is magnified hundreds of times. The objective lens enlarges the image and the eyepiece lens then allows us to view the object in a way that is far too small to be seen without a microscope.
Components of a Compound Microscope:
1. Eyepiece lens (आकार प्रतिपात दृश्यता): This is the lens closest to the observer’s eye. It has a magnification power of 5X, 10X or 15X.
2. Objective lens (उद्देश्य धरण):This is the most important lens in a compound microscope. It is placed at the bottom and is responsible for magnifying the object. The magnification power of this lens is usually 4X, 10X, 40X and 100X.
3. Nosepiece (नाकपान):This is the rotating part of the microscope that houses the objective lenses. It helps to rotate and switch between the various objective lenses.
4. Stage (वेश): This is the part of the microscope where the slide containing the object is placed. It has a hole which is known as the aperture that works in tandem with the condenser lens.
5. Condenser (निरंकित करनेवाला):This lens is located below the stage and is responsible for focusing the light on the specimen on the slide.
6. Illumination light source (प्रकाश स्रोत): This is the source of light that passes through the specimen and illuminates it for viewing.
Uses of a Compound Microscope:
Compound microscopes are widely used in research and educational laboratories. By using a compound microscope, we can understand the structure and process of living cells. It can also be used for studying microorganisms like bacteria, protozoan, and fungi as well as other objects too small to be seen with the naked eye.
It is also used in the field of medicine for diagnostic purposes. The compounds microscope is used to identify diseases by studying the samples taken from a patient. It can also be used to distinguish one disease causing organism from another.
Advantages of a Compound Microscope:
1. Enhanced clarity of images: The objective lenses of the compound microscope provide a higher level of detail and clarity than a regular microscope.
2. Accurate measurements: With a compound microscope, it is much easier to measure the size of a specimen accurately.
3. Easy to use: Compared to other types of microscopes, a compound microscope is relatively easy to use.
Conclusion:
Compound microscopes are extremely powerful tools that allow us to observe things that we would not be able to see with the naked eye. With its help, we can study microscopic organisms and objects in order to understand more about our world.
