Parts of a Microscope

There are several different parts of a microscope and all of them are equally important to one another. All of the different parts work together to create a powerful tool used to magnify objects to be seen in ways that are not possible with the naked eye. Most parts of a microscope are easily interchangeable so that if need be, you can replace or repair the parts with ease.

The base of the microscope is the part that supports the entire scope. The base is usually the largest and heaviest part of the microscope and it is responsible for maintaining a steady working environment while using a microscope. The next piece is the arm of the microscope. The arm is responsible for connecting the base of the microscope to the actual tube of the microscope which is where the actual lenses are attached too. Connecting the eyepiece lens to the objective lens is the job of the tube. At the top of the tube is where the eyepiece lens is located. When you look through a microscope you are actually looking through the eyepiece lens which is usually at the power of 10X or 15X magnification.

One of the main parts of the microscope is the objective lens. This is the lens that is responsible for the most magnification. The amount of magnification is dependent upon the strength of the eyepiece lens and the strength of the objective lens. The formula for the total power of magnification is eyepiece strength X objective lens strength Magnification strength. For example, if your microscope has an eyepiece strength of 5X and your objective lens strength is 20X then your total magnification strength would be 100X.

Some microscopes are equipped with a piece called a turret, or a revolving nosepiece. This part of a microscope is able to hold several different strength objective lenses on a rotating wheel which allows the user to adjust the strength of magnification of the microscope. Most higher quality microscopes are equipped with this type of nosepiece.

When you place the specimen which is being examined upon the microscope, you are placing the object on what is called the stage. The stage is usually a flat surface that is wide enough to hold a Petri dish or anything else of that size. There are usually at least two small clips connected to the stage which are used to secure the specimen to the stage so that it does not move. Some microscopes are equipped with an adjustable stage called a mechanical stage. With a mechanical stage you are able to adjust the position of the object being viewed by using a knob on the microscope.

Some microscopes will have an illuminator which is made from a tiny light that will focus on the object. The condenser lens is responsible for actually focusing the light, while the light source is either from a bulb or a mirror which captures light from above. There is also a piece that can control the size and intensity of the light being projected.