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between the eyepieces) is achieved by twisting the eyepiece tubes in an
up and down arc motion similar to binoculars.
STAGE - the table of the microscope where the slide is placed for
viewing. This component moves upward and downward when the
focusing knobs are turned.
STAGE CLIPS - a pair of flexible metal clips attached by spring screws
that hold the slide in position on the stage.
IMPORTANT MICROSCOPY TERMS
APERTURE, ANGULAR - the angle (or cone) of light rays capable of
entering the front lens of the objective from a point in the object. By
increasing the angular aperture of an objective, more light rays from
the specimen can be taken in by the lens; hence the resolving power is
increased.
COMPOUND MICROSCOPE - a microscope having a primary magnifier
(the objective) and a second (the eyepiece) to both conduct light,
amplify magnification and convert the image into a field of view easily
seen by the human eye.
COVER GLASS - thin glass cut in circles, rectangles or squares, for
covering the specimen, usually a thickness of 0.15 to 0. I7mm. The
majority of specimens should be protected by a cover glass, and must be
covered when using 40XRD or 100XRD objectives.
DEPTH OF FOCUS - the ability of a lens to furnish a distinct image
above and below the focal plane. Depth of focus decreases with the
increase of numerical aperture or with the increase of magnification.
DIN – (Deutsche Industrial Norman) an international optical standard for
the manufacturing of most quality microscope lenses. Many DIN lenses
will be interchangeable from one DIN microscope to another.
EYE POINT or EYE RELIEF – the distance from the eyepiece lens to your
eye where a full field of view can be seen.
FIELD OF VIEW - the area of the object seen when the image is
observed. It may range in diameter from several millimeters to less than
0.1mm.
