Microscope Magnification: How to Calculate Total Magnification

What is the total magnification of a compound microscope?

The ocular magnification of the eyepiece on a compound microscope is 15x. The objective magnification is 40x.

Answer:

The total magnification of a compound microscope is calculated by multiplying the eyepiece magnification by the objective magnification.

When using a compound microscope, the total magnification is determined by the combination of the eyepiece and objective lenses. In this case, with an eyepiece magnification of 15x and an objective magnification of 40x, the total magnification would be:

It's essential to understand that the total magnification can vary based on the specific combination of lenses used. For instance, if a 20x eyepiece and a 40x objective are used, the total magnification would be:

Similarly, when using a 15x eyepiece with a 100x objective, the total magnification would be:

In conclusion, the total magnification of a compound microscope is dependent on the magnifications of both the eyepiece and objective lenses.