Discuss how changing the condenser settings on a compound mi

Discuss how changing the condenser settings on a compound microscope can alter the appearance of your sample. Consider the types of structures or samples that might be better viewed under a particular type of lighting.

Solution

The changing of the condenser settings on a compound microscope can alter the appearance of your sample because light can pass towards a lens followed by condenser through the specimen & objective lens to the eye finally through the ocular lens result in “higher image resolution with an apparent field much greater than the area illuminated”. This is due to the movement of light pass through the condenser & followed by ocular magnification for better image. The absorption of light illuminating onto the sample varies due to changing the condenser settings on a compound microscope. For example, the types of structures or samples involving cell structures (bacteria or paramecium) that might be better viewed under a particular type of incandescent lighting via the following condenser setting, otherwise distortion of image may occur due to maximum contrast.

The total amount of light, which is going to illuminate via condenser and through the ocular lenses is predominantly regulated by the iris diaphragm by creating an aperture. This is a major and usual method of adjusting brightness or light illuminating onto the sample slide.

Using the illumination intensity control arranged near to the on-off switch on a microscope, the total incidence of light can be adjusted characteristically. In such a manner, we can illuminate the desired wavelength of emitted light on to the sample.    

By regulating the Abbe condenser also, the total brightness and or the incidence of light rays can be adjusted on the convoluted microscope lens system. Usually in order to obtain characteristic contrast or to prevent glare the magnifications of the incident light must be elevated. Condenser is always useful to focus light through the specimen.

As the magnification increases, the field of view reduces,

For example, at 40x magnification ---------> 5mm size objects can be seen under microscope

At 100x magnification ---------> 2mm size objects can be seen under microscope

At 400x magnification ---------> 0.45mm or 450um size objects can be seen under microscope

At 1000x magnification ---------> 0.185mm or 185um size objects can be seen under microscope

Therefore, as the magnification increasing, size of the object decreased as their thickness different. Therefore, smaller size can be seen with higher (1000x) magnification