Question

Explain, in your own words, how you would use the light microscope to view a wet mount of a protist, assuming the microscope is plugged in and that the light source is on. Please use at least the following 9 structures in your description and underline them as you use them: stage, stage clip(s), stage knob(s), eyepiece, scanning objective lens, low power objective lens, high power objective lens, coarse focus knob, and fine focus knob.

Answer 1

Answer:

Please find the detailed explanation/description on how to use the light microscope to view a wet mount of a protist. The 9 structures mentioned in the question are in CAPS.

Explanation:

- Firstly, the slide containing the wet mount of the protist is prepared and placed at the centre of a lowered STAGE. The STAGE CLIPS over the sides of the slide are used to hold it in place.

- The revolving turret or nosepiece is turned so that the LOWEST POWER OBJECTIVE LENS is in position i.e. directly above the sample/slide. The SCANNING OBJECTIVE LENS, the lowest objective lens with power of 4x is used initially.

- The slide is viewed through the EYEPIECE, and the image is brought into focus using the STAGE KNOBS.

- The COARSE FOCUS KNOB is turned until the protist on the slide is brought into broad focus. The FINE FOCUS KNOB is then used to bring the image on the slide into sharp focus.

N.B: The OBJECTIVE LENS should not touch the cover slip on the slide during this process.

- When the protist on the slide is clear using lowest power objective lens, the revolver turret can be rotated to allow HIGHER POWER OBJECTIVE LENS.

- Due to higher magnification of the HIGH POWER OBJECTIVE LENS, the protist might need to be refocused using the FOCUS KNOBS.