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Purpose: Basics refresher on how to correctly use a Compound Microscope.



Materials:  

Nikon Alphaphot 2/YS2

Threads Slide (9525)

E Slide



Procedure: 



1. Retrieved compound microscope from cart by holding the base and the neck. Placed on bench without sliding microscope.
2. Confirmed the lowest objective lens was in place, and the stage is correctly lowered. 
3. Inserted the slide into the slide holder on the stage.
4. Powered the microscope on and turned up the light.
5. Raised the stage to the top, then lowered until the slide came into focus.
6. Adjusted ocular lenses to correct for vision.
7. Switched the objective lens to increase magnification. Adjusted the focus using the fine focus knob.
8. Increased light source with increased objective lens strength.
9. Finished viewing the slide and returned the objective lens to the 4 (lowest powered lens).
10. Lowered the stage completely.
11. Switched the slide from threads to E slide.
12. Raised the stage to the top, then lowered into focus.

After observing the new slide, I again switched to the lowest objective lens and lowered the stage completely. I turned the light off and powered the microscope off. After wrapping the cord I returned the microscope to the cart. 



Observations and Results: 



I observed that the red string is the top string when I switched to the 10x objective which had a total magnification value of 100x. (Occular lens magnification x objective lens magnification) At 400x I was able to determine the yellow was beneath the red, and the green thread was at the bottom by observing the direction of the thread braiding on the top layer.



When the E slide was viewed, the E was upside-down compared to how it appears to the naked eye on the slide as a result of the image being refracted through the mirror. 



Conclusion: 



It was a good refresher exercise reminding us of our Compound Microscope manners. I would have preferred to be looking at pond water though. :)  Microscopes are FUN!





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