Some details about microscope

Introduction to Microscopes

                 The introduction of 'Optics' as a field of science in physics. encouraged the development of Microscopes. The earliest microscope invented by Anton Van Leeuwenhoek (1673), opened new fields in Biological Sciences. Further developments in 'lens system' improved the microscopic techniques. Discovery of electrons and the 'radiation effects' resulted in the development of electron microscopic techniques.

             Microscopes are absolutely essential to see microorganisms and study about tissues, cells their components. 

         The ability of our eye to see minute structures is much limited. Hence we need microscopes. The power of microscopic vision is expressed in terms of 'resolving power'. This power refers to the capacity for finding the distance between two particles. In human unaided eye the limit of resolution is about 0.1mm. It means that two particles separated by a distance that is less than 0.1mm will appear as a single particle to our eyes.

               Hence objects that are smaller than this distance will be invisible. Human eye has no power of magnification. But the microscopes can both resolve and magnify an object. The power of such resolution depends on the qualify of light and lens system. An ordinary light microscope can magnify an object from 2000 to 4000 times. Still further magnification and resolution is required to see ultra structures. This problem is solved by electron microscopes. Theoretically an electron microscope can magnify an object 200,000 to 300,000 times.