What Is the Best Way to Focus on a Microscope?: A Beginner’s Guide

When it comes to focusing on a microscope, there are a few key things that you need to keep in mind.

The first is the magnification (or power) of your scope. This should be high enough to see clearly but not so high that you have difficulty handling the instrument.

Next, ensure that the eyepiece has good eye relief, allowing you to move your eyes without feeling strained or uncomfortable.

And finally, store and clean your microscope regularly for optimal performance.

The microscope is an essential research tool for biology students or scientists, just as the weapon is for warier; the telescope is for astronomers. With this help, the object can be seen many times larger in tiny corners.

The compound microscope we use for our research has the facility to see these small objects with the help of light. These microscopes are called light microscopes. Microscopes that use electrons instead of light are called electron (not electronic!) microscopes. Light microscopes are of two types-

1. Simple microscope and

2. Compound microscope

Simple Microscope

This microscope has a pillar at the top of the foot, to which a glass stage is attached. There are two clips attached to this glass stage.

There is a mirror at the bottom of the pillar.

Above the column is a drawn tube with a ring on its arm to hold the lens.

By placing the lens on this loop, the course adjustment screw can be turned to focus on the distracting object.

Reflecting the light on the object through the mirror.

The foundation on which the instrument stands is called a foot.

Compound Microscope

Before knowing how to use a compound, it is essential to know the names of its different parts of it. Notice the image of the microscope.

Base: The lower part of the microscope that resembles the hooves of the neck is called the base.

Arm: The curved part at the top of the stand is called the arm.

Stage: The stage is attached to the lower part of the arm.

Body tube: A cylindrical part of the upper part of the microscope attached to the eyepiece at one end and the objective lens at the other.

Nose piece and objective: The rotating part at the bottom of the body tube is called the nose piece. It has three objectives (lens).

1. Low power objective (10X-12X).

2. High power objective (40X-45X).

3. Oil immersion objective (100X).

Some machine has another object called a screening object (4X-5X).

Eyepiece: One (monocular) or two (binocular) eyepieces are attached to the body tube’s upper part. Its magnification is usually 10X-12X.

Fine focus knob: This is a small knob. The slide can be moved in or out of the lens’s focal length by turning it up and down the stage. When it is surrounded, the stage moves a little bit, which means that the focus is finally adjusted.

Coarse focus knob: this is a big knob. The slide can be moved in or out of the lens’s focal length by turning it up and down the stage. With a bit of fencing, a lot of movement of the stage takes place, which means that the focus is adjusted roughly.

Sub-stage diaphragm and condenser: Below the stage is a sub-stage that can be moved up and down with a condenser attached. the condenser contains a diaphragm or screen that determines how much light will enter the condenser.

Source of light: In the center of the base is the source of the light, from where light enters through the condenser.

Proper Use Of Compound Microscope

The microscope has to be placed on the table in a cool place.

The eyepiece and the object, and the mirror of the glass have to be cleaned with a piece of clean cloth.

Keeping an eye on the eyepiece, the low-power object has to be gradually swayed. When the object comes vertically to the hole in the stage, a click sound is made. The goal is to keep it that way.

The coverslip on the slide must be placed on the stage so that the part covered by the coverslip is just below the object lens and above the hole in the stage. The slide should be fastened with clips from both sides to stay still.

  Now keep an eye on the eyepiece and turn the concave side of the mirror towards the light source so that the light beam is reflected and falls brightly on the object on the slide through the diaphragm, condenser, and stage holes.

The object has to be brought very close to the slide (about half an inch above the slide) by turning the coarse focus screw and turning the screw slowly up, and down the object, the pattern suddenly placed on the slide becomes clear. This method is called focusing. Now turn the fine focus screw to see the object more clearly and clearly.

Tricks: Almost all microscopes used everywhere are monocular, so when using them, you have to open both eyes and see with one eye. To avoid strain on the eyes, it is necessary to change the eyes from time to time to see the eyepiece. However, it is better to use a binocular microscope.

If you want to use natural light in a microscope: you have to place the microscope in a secluded laboratory. First, the mirror has to be placed so that the reflected light rays are reflected under the glass slide along the stage. And if the artificial light source is present as part of the microscope, it should only be lit.

Precaution:

The microscope should never be placed on the edge of the table.

The microscope must always be kept upright; otherwise, the slide placed on the stage may fall.

The first is to use low-power targets, later, high-power targets will be used as needed.

The object lens should never touch the slide cover slip.

Always clean the lens with a soft cloth made of silk or fine cotton.

After using the microscope, it should be covered with a Belzer, cloth, or polythene. Putting calcium chloride in a small container in the Belzer keeps the Belzer dry. As a result, the fungus does not grow in the lens.