Using a light microscope
When using a light microscope it’s important to start with the low power In a compound microscope, the lens closest to the specimen has a very short focal length and produces a greatly magnified image of the specimen. as the The area seen when looking through a microscope. will be wider, increasing the number of cells you are able to see.
This makes it easier to find what you’re looking for.
Then, ensuring the cells are in the middle of the field of view, rotate a higher powered lens into place and begin to focus to view the cells in more detail.
Extra care is needed here because the high-powered lens can become damaged as it’s very close to the slide.
\(\text{Total magnification} = {\text{eyepiece magnification}}{\text{ x objective lens magnification}}\)
Drawing cell structures
A good biological drawing should be:
- Drawn in pencil. Lines should be firm and continuous with no gaps (not sketchy).
- Large with the same proportions as the observed cell.
- Labelled using separate ruled lines. These should be spread out with a bullet point on one end and a clearly written label on the other.
- Given a title that includes its magnification or size.