Calculate the total magnification for the lens combinations: Scanning power: eyepiece times objective Low power: eyepiece times objective High power: eyepiece times objective Oil immersion: eyepiece x times objective
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
To calculate the total magnification of a microscope, you multiply the magnification power of the eyepiece by the magnification power of the objective lens being used. The formula for total magnification is:
Total Magnification = Eyepiece Magnification × Objective Magnification
Here’s how you apply it to each lens combination:
- Scanning Power:
- Eyepiece magnification: Usually 10x
- Objective magnification: Typically 4x (this may vary, but 4x is standard)
- Low Power:
- Eyepiece magnification: 10x
- Objective magnification: Usually 10x
- High Power:
- Eyepiece magnification: 10x
- Objective magnification: Typically 40x
- Oil Immersion:
- Eyepiece magnification: 10x
- Objective magnification: Typically 100x (this lens is specifically designed for oil immersion, which increases the clarity and resolution)
Explanation:
- Eyepiece Magnification is typically fixed at 10x for most microscopes, although it may vary. The eyepiece is the lens that you look through.
- Objective Magnification refers to the individual lenses attached to the microscope’s rotating nosepiece. These lenses typically range from 4x (scanning power) to 100x (oil immersion) in most standard compound microscopes.
- Scanning Power provides the lowest magnification, useful for locating objects on a slide.
- Low Power gives a wider field of view, suitable for examining objects in more detail than scanning power.
- High Power is used for observing smaller structures or details within a specimen.
- Oil Immersion uses a special oil to eliminate light refraction, which increases the resolving power of the microscope, allowing you to see even finer details.
The total magnification tells you how many times larger an object appears compared to its actual size. So, for example, if you’re using oil immersion with a 10x eyepiece and a 100x objective lens, the total magnification is 1000x, meaning the object is magnified 1000 times its actual size.
