Question

Explain the steps that you would use to focus on a specimen under a compound light microscope.

Answer 1

To start, move the objective lens to its lowest power setting. Place a slide on the stage with the label side up and the cover slip in the middle. You can only use the coarse focus knob when the power is low. If you can't see anything, move the slide a little while you look and focus. If nothing shows up, turn down the light and move the slide a little while you're looking and focusing. Once you're in focus on low power, move the slide to make the object of interest in the middle of it. Turn the objective to medium power and only change the fine focus. If you need to, turn the objective to high power and only adjust the fine focus.