Microscope

Microscope

A Microscope is an instrument used to see objects that are too small to be seen by the naked eye. Microscopy is the science of investigating small objects and structures using such an instrument. Microscopic means invisible to the eye unless aided by a microscope.

History

The concept of magnification has been around for more than 2000 years, but it was Antonie van Leeuwenhoek's creation of microscopes with magnification of about 300x that truly inaugurated the field of microscopy.

Types of Microscopes

There are several different types of microscopes, as described below:

• Optical microscope: This is the oldest design of microscope and uses light to image the sample.

• Electron microscope: These use a beam of electrons as a source of illumination.

• Scanning probe microscope: This type of microscope forms images of surfaces using a physical probe that scans the specimen.

Uses

Microscopes have a wide range of uses across various fields of science, including biology, geology, and chemistry. They are essential tools in medical research, allowing for detailed study of cells and microorganisms.

See Also

• Telescope
• Magnifying glass
• Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
• Cell (biology)

References

Microscope Resources
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