Question

part g: check your understanding

1. describe two other kinds of microscopes, and discuss how they are different from the light microscope.
2. explain why the light microscope is also called a compound microscope.

Explanation:

1. Electron microscope: Uses a beam of electrons instead of light, achieving much higher magnification and resolution due to the shorter wavelength of electrons compared to light. For example, transmission electron microscopes (TEM) can visualize internal structures of cells at the nanoscale level, while light microscopes are limited to the micrometer scale. Scanning probe microscope: It works by physically scanning a probe over the sample surface. Atomic - force microscopes (AFM) can map the topography of a sample with atomic - level precision. Unlike light microscopes that rely on light interaction, AFM measures forces between the probe and the sample.
2. The light microscope is called a compound microscope because it has two sets of lenses: an objective lens close to the specimen and an eyepiece lens close to the observer's eye. The objective lens forms a magnified real image of the specimen, and the eyepiece lens further magnifies this real image to form a virtual image that can be seen by the observer.

Answer:

1. Electron microscope: Uses electron beam for higher magnification and resolution. Scanning probe microscope: Scans a probe over the surface for atomic - level precision.
2. It has two sets of lenses (objective and eyepiece).