A compound light microscope works by using two or more lenses to magnify an image of a specimen. The specimen is illuminated by a light source located beneath the stage, which passes through the sample and is magnified by the lenses. Here are the main steps involved in the working of a compound light microscope:
- Illumination: A compound light microscope has a light source located beneath the stage, which illuminates the specimen.
- Magnification: The light passing through the specimen is magnified by two or more lenses. The first lens, called the objective lens, is located near the specimen and produces a magnified image. The second lens, called the eyepiece lens, further magnifies the image produced by the objective lens.
- Focusing: The focus of the microscope is adjusted by moving the stage up or down, which brings the specimen into focus. The distance between the objective lens and the specimen is adjusted using the fine and coarse focus controls.
- Observation: Once the specimen is in focus, it can be observed through the eyepiece of the microscope. The image produced by the lenses is inverted and reversed from left to right, but this is corrected by the brain to produce a correctly oriented image.
In summary, a compound light microscope works by using a light source, two or more lenses, and focus controls to magnify and observe the image of a specimen. The specimen is illuminated from below the stage and the magnified image is observed through the eyepiece of the microscope.
