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How to Use a Microscope
Do you need help learning how to effectively use a
compound microscope? It's not as complicated as it may look - in fact,
we hope these instructions will help you quickly become comfortable and proficient
at using your microscope!
You'll find out about these topics in this article:
How to Use Your Compound Microscope
Diagram of Microscope Parts
Cleaning and Maintenance
How to Use Your Compound Microscope
- Set your microscope on a tabletop or other flat,
sturdy surface where you will have plenty of room to work. Plug the
microscope's power cord into an outlet. (Note: some compound microscopes don't use electric
lighting, but have a mirror to focus natural light instead.)
- Switch
on your microscope's light source and then
adjust the diaphragm
to
the largest hole diameter, allowing the greatest
amount of light through. If you have an iris diaphragm, slide the lever
till the most light comes through. See the diagram below for help
locating these parts.
-
Rotate
the nosepiece
to the lowest-power objective (usually 4x
for 40x magnification). It is easiest to scan a slide at a low setting,
since
you have a wider field of view at low power.
- Place a
microscope slide on the stage, either under the stage clips or clipped
onto the mechanical stage if your microscope has one. A prepared slide works best when you do this
for the first time. (If you do not have a prepared slide, place a strand
of colored yarn or thread on a blank slide and place a
coverslip
over it.) Move the slide until the specimen is under the objective lens.
- Adjust the large coarse focus knob
until the specimen is in focus. Slowly move the slide to center the specimen
under the lens, if necessary. Do this by nudging it gently with your fingers
or by turning the slide control knobs if you have a mechanical stage.
- Adjust the small fine focus knob
until the specimen is clearly in focus. Then
adjust the diaphragm
to get the best lighting. Start with the most light and gradually lessen it
until the specimen image has clear, sharp contrast.
- Scan the slide
(right to left and top to bottom) at low power to get an overview of the
specimen. Then center the part of the specimen you want to view at higher
power.
- Rotate the nosepiece to the 10x objective for 100x magnification. Refocus
and view your specimen carefully.
Adjust the lighting again
until the image is most clear (you will need more light for higher power). Repeat with the 40x
objective for 400x magnification, which will enable you to see all of the specimen
detail that's necessary for high school biology lab work.
- Optional: If your microscope has a 100x oil-immersion
lens, you'll need to put 1-2 drops of
immersion oil over the slide coverslip (the piece of glass over the middle of the
slide) before viewing it at highest power. Move the 100x objective lens
into position, and then slowly move the stage up until the lens makes contact
with the oil. Continue focusing with the coarse focus knob until the
color or blurred outline of the specimen appears. Finish focusing with
the fine focus knob. With the 100x lens, you
will be able to see additional cell detail, but you will need to take extra
care with focus and contrast for a clear image. When you
are done using the slide, clean the oil off of the
slide and the lens with lens cleaning paper and solution.
Once you've mastered the
basics of using your microscope, you can expand your microscope studies. Print out copies of our
Microscope Observation worksheet to
help you record what you see!
Diagram of Microscope Parts
Microscope Cleaning and Maintenance
To clean the exterior side of lenses,
use a non-solvent cleaning solution
designed for cleaning optics or eyeglasses. First remove dust with a soft brush
or can of compressed air. Then moisten a piece of dry lint-free tissue or lens paper and
clean the lens surfaces with a circular motion. Repeat with a second piece of
paper moistened with lens solution if necessary. Repeat once again with
dry lens paper until the lens is clean and dry. Use this same procedure
for the eyepiece and objective lenses.
To clean the interior side of lenses, use a bulb-type duster or a
compressed gas canister designed for cameras and other optical equipment. Do
not use the above procedure. Order our Microscope Cleaning Kit for a complete set of tools to clean your microscope with.
To clean the body of the microscope, use a soft dry or damp cloth.
Using a dust cover will help keep your microscope investment clean and
dust-free.
Return to Top of Page
More information:
Find an affordable set of
prepared slides to use with your microscope, whether you're interested in
anatomy, zoology, botany, or just want a starter set.
Check out our tips for making
slides and doing other activities with your microscope.
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