2. Day 1
paramecium bursaria
paramecium caudatum
blue-green algae
plasma membrane
size:
cells<0.05
mm
colonies
can be
many mm
x4 Magnification on Compound
Light Microscope
size:
180-250
micrometers in
length
size:
0.25 mm
Long
3. Day 2 (part I)
O We think that the microscopic picture of
paramecium caudatum slide shows us the
better picture because it clearly shows the
shape and details. The compound
microscope makes things much larger than
they are (from 10 times larger to 1000 times
larger)
O Although the paramecium caudatum seems to
be small, its structure is actually larger than
the blue green algae and the paramecium
bursaria.
7. Day 2 – What we Learned
about the Microscope
O What we learned about microscopes is
that it can make things that are invisible to
our naked eye become larger and easier
to identify.
O Microscopes magnify so that doctors and
scientist can easily see bacteria, viruses,
and other microscopic organisms.
O Microscopes helps students see tiny
organisms that are only learned about in
textbooks.
8. Day 2 – Extra Information
Gained from this Lab
O On a compound microscope a light source
illuminates the object on the slide.
O The source can be a mirror or it can be self-
illuminating.
O Light passes through the object and the lens nearest
the object, called the objective lens enlarges the
image.
O The eyepiece acts as a magnifier and produces an
enlarged image.
O For magnification, the eyepiece magnification needs
to be adjusted 10x by the magnification of the
objective lens (4x, 10x, 40x and 100x).
O With a magnification of approximately 2000x you can
view bacteria, algae, protozoa and some human and
animal cells.
9. Day 2 – This Lab could be
Better if…
1. Every member of the group had a specific
task or slide assigned.
2. A model of the assignment was presented
before actually beginning this lab.
3. We had more group time during class hours.
4. The comparisons were focused between
drawings and online pictures that were
specifically comparing different assigned
magnifications. (Ex. Viewing algae in x40
vs.. x100, etc.)
