The parts of a microscope and their use
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Throughout history, the human being has been able to create totally revolutionary inventions, which have been capable of totally changing scientific research methods, one of these inventions being the microscope optical. To fully understand this creation, and its complex operation, today in this lesson from a PROFESSOR we are going to talk about the parts of a microscope and their use.
Index
- What is a microscope?
- All parts of the microscope
- History of the optical microscope
What is a microscope?
The microscope, whose name comes from the words "look" and "small" in Greek, is an invention that allows see objects that are too small to see them at first glance. There are a large number of microscopes, since it has been an instrument that has evolved throughout over the years, adapting to new times, but the most used is the one that was created first, the microscope optical.
The optical microscope, or light microscope, is a microscope that is based on the
use of optical lenses. Among its main applications are the study of small crystals in chemistry, in physics, in the analysis of rocks in geology and especially in the study of beings in biology.All parts of the microscope.
The parts of the light microscope can be divided into two groups, those parts that belong to the Mechanic system and those that are from optical system. For a better understanding of the lesson, we will talk separately about the parts of both systems.
Mechanic system
The mechanical parts are all those that maintain the structure of the invention, allowing all the parts to be well aligned. The parts of the mechanical system of the optical microscope are as follows:
- Base or foot: It is the part that is in the lowest area of the microscope. Its function is that the microscope remains standing, supporting the entire structure.
- Arm: It is the part that connects all the parts, being the skeleton of the microscope.
- Platen: It is a platform where the element to be observed is placed.
- Tweezers: They are two clamps that are used to hold the sample that is located on the stage.
- Coarse screw: It is used to adjust the vertical position of the specimen, allowing wide displacements.
- Micrometric screw: It is used to achieve a more precise focus on the sample.
- Stir: It is used to easily change the objective used to view the sample.
- Tube: Connect the eyepiece and objectives.
Optical system
The optical parts are those that are used to generate and deflect light, being essential to generate an enlarged image of the sample. The parts of the optical system are as follows:
- Focus: It generates a light that is directed at the sample.
- Condenser: It is responsible for concentrating the light rays on the sample.
- Diaphragm: Regulates the amount of light that goes to the sample.
- Objective: A set of lenses that serve to enlarge the image.
- Ocular: Enlarges the image that has been magnified by the lens.
Image: Partsdel.com
History of the optical microscope.
To talk about the parts of a microscope and their use, we must talk about the origin of this invention, to better understand the evolution it has undergone over the years.
The microscope was invented by Zacharias Janssen in 1590, who built them by using two converging lenses. It should be noted that the Janssen model is very different from the current microscope, but its basic structure is very similar, serving as a model for current microscopes.
On the other hand, some people place Galileo as the true creator of the microscope, which he called occhiolino. This thinking is based on Galileo gave great support to the microscope, seeking its dissemination in the scientific field, although all the evidence indicates that he was not the true inventor.
Over the years the microscope began to be used by important scientists, being essential for some of the great scientific works of the time. Some of these scientists were William Harvey and Robert Hooke. The microscope became quite famous when it was worn by Leeuwenhoek to describe bacteria such as sperm or red blood cells. The Dutch scientist is considered the father of bacteriology, this being one of the sciences where the microscope is most important.
Over the years the microscope has evolved, and although it maintains the basic structure given by Janssen, the reality is that it is a very different invention, essential for the study scientific.
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