Light Microscope Magnification: Explained!
How is the total magnification of a light microscope calculated?
Choose the correct answer:
A. By adding the magnifications of the objective lens and eyepiece
B. By subtracting the magnifications of the objective lens and eyepiece
C. By multiplying the magnifications of the objective lens and eyepiece
D. By dividing the magnifications of the objective lens and eyepiece
The total magnification of a light microscope is calculated by:
Option C: By multiplying the magnifications of the objective lens and eyepiece
When using a light microscope, the total magnification of an image is determined by multiplying the magnification of the objective lens by the magnification of the eyepiece. This means that the total magnification is not the sum or difference of the magnifications, but the product of the two.
The objective lens of a microscope typically has a fixed magnification, such as 5x or 10x, while the eyepiece commonly has a magnification of 10x. By multiplying these two values together, you can calculate the total magnification of the microscope.
For example, if the objective lens has a magnification of 5x and the eyepiece has a magnification of 10x, the total magnification would be 5 x 10 = 50. This means that the image seen through the microscope is enlarged 50 times compared to its actual size.