USING AND EVALUATING THE MICROSCOPEProfessor of Biology and Chemistry University of Cincinnati Clermont College, Batavia OH 45103 |
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This page has been accessed 4 November 1987, revised 6 July 1994, 12 Sept '95, 26 June 1996, 26 Sept. '96, 3 July '97, 30 June 98, 2 July 2001 |
You are responsible for the welfare of the microscope in your numbered seat. Take care of it please. You may also have received a set of slides numbered according to your seat. You are responsible for their welfare also. Keep them clean and in good order. Check to see that they are in proper order and good condition, then sign your name on the label on the slide box cover to take responsibility for them.
In the first part of this exercise, you will evaluate the condition of your microscope as well as learn its use. Fill out the Microscope Check-In form in your desk drawer as you are instructed, date and sign your name showing it is in good working order. If the condition is anything but excellent, notify instructor.
PLACING THE SLIDE ON THE MICROSCOPE:
1. Lower the stage. Rotate the 4x objective into position if it is not already there.
2. Handle all slides by the edges only. Pick up a prepared slide of the letter "e".
3. Open the slide retainer by pressing the jaw lever to the right. Place the slide on the stage with the label to the left. Using the mechanical stage, move the slide until the specimen is over the optic center of the stage. (View from side and front to get a best estimate of center.)
4. Raise the stage while viewing from the side until the objective almost touches the slide or until the stage stops.
FOCUSING:
5. Lower the stage to focus as you look through the oculars until the image becomes sharp (in focus). If it never appears, re-adjust the position of the slide nearer the optic center, and repeat the 4x focusing procedure. To correct for differences between your R and L eyes, look through the right ocular with only the R eye and focus to sharpness. Then look through the L ocular with only the L eye, and rotate the L ocular until the image is sharp. If your eyes are closely matched, the diopter scale on the L ocular should read close to zero. Write the number in your book. Adjust interpupillary distance, write this number in your book as well. Label both clearly. Using the mechanical stage, move the slide to the L. Note that the image moves in the opposite direction of the actual slide. Is the view bright and clear? If so, write excellent under both 4x objective and ocular columns. If the view is hazy, clean with lens paper.
6. Rotate the nosepiece to select 10x objective. (What is the power of the view?) Center the image again. If you lose the view of the specimen, go back to low power to find it again and center more carefully. Is the view clear and bright? If so, mark excellent in the 10x column.
7. Rotate the nose piece to select the 40x objective. Make minor
adjustments in focus with fine focus. Is the view clear and bright? If
so, mark excellent in the 40x column. Note the grains of silver at the
edge of the photographic image of the "e". Practice using the mechanical
stage to trace the outer edge of the "e". Does it function perfectly? If
so, mark excellent under mechanical stage column.
| HOW TO RETURN MICROSCOPE TO STORAGE:
1: Lower stage fully
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QUICK CHECK LIST:
stage lowered
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