1.3: Lab Report
Exercise 1: Identifying the parts of the microscope
Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Side and front view of Olympus CX43 microscope, from user manual.
Identify & label the following parts of your microscope onto the image above, and fill-in-the blanks below.
· Binocular head, Oculars: _______x
· Arm
· Revolving nosepiece
· Objective lenses: ______x, _______x, _______x, _______x
· Mechanical stage and X/Y knobs
· Stage/slide clips
· Condenser Turret __________, ___________, __________, ____________
· Iris diaphragm and how to adjust it
· Coarse adjustment knob & fine adjustment knob
· Light source; illuminator
· Base
· Dimmer; light intensity
· Power switch & power cord
· Total magnification calculation =
Exercise 2: Using your Microscope
View both Paramecium and Amoeba slides under the 4x, 10x, and 40x objectives, and sketch and label each organism in the space below. Do NOT use the oil immersion lens today.
- Pick 1-3 cells of each organism to draw.
- You decide which magnification is best for each specimen. For example, a larger cell/specimen might best be seen with the 10x objective instead of the 40x objective.
- Make sure to label each sketch with the organism’s name, the total magnification, the calculation for total magnification, and label distinguishing features of the organism. For example, for Amoeba label the nucleus and pseudopod(s).
Microscopes & Lab Safety Review Questions
After reading the safety guidelines (see appendix) and the microscope introduction, answer the following questions.
1. It is okay to drink bottled water in the lab.
a. True
b. False
2. Which type of shoes must students wear in the laboratory?
a. Sandals
b. Shoes with non-slip tread/soles
c. Any type of shoe
d. Shoes that cover your entire foot
3. The classroom fire extinguishers are located near the
a. Staff entrance
b. Student exits
c. Steel sink
d. Teacher’s desk
4. The classroom phone is located at the
a. Staff entrance
b. Student exits
c. Steel sink
d. Teacher’s desk
5. Guests are allowed in lab if they have prior permission and have agreed to the laboratory safety rules.
a. True
b. False
6. During an emergency evacuation, we should meet at
a. Student Lot 9 (near observatory entrance)
b. The Sequoia / Valle Del Lago roundabout
c. Montgomery Hill Observatory
d. Staff Parking Lot 7
7. While viewing a microscope slide, you find that the light appears too dim for your preference. Adjustment of which of the following might solve your problem?
a. Oculars
b. Course adjustment knob
c. Iris diaphragm
d. Stage clips
8. It is okay to use soft Kleenex to clean your microscope lenses.
a. True
b. False
9. Once you have a slide in focus under one of the lenses, the other lenses will be in focus as well and therefore will only require slight adjustment using the fine focus knob. This is because our microscopes are ___________.
a. Expensive
b. Superb
c. Parfocal
d. Refractory
10. We must (always and only) use oil when viewing slides using which objective lens?
a. 4x
b. 10x
c. 40x
d. 100x
11. It is best to always begin viewing a slide using the 40x objective lens.
a. True
b. False
12. When focusing a slide, the stage should be all the way ____ before you look through the oculars.
a. Down
b. Up13. When storing the microscope, the stage should be ____, and the ____ objective lens should be centered (in front).
a. Up, 4x
b. Up, 40x
c. Down, 4x
d. Down, 40x
14. True or False: Before and after each use with the microscope, you should clean the objective lenses, starting with the 4x objective.
a. True
b. False
15. We never drag the microscope across the bench top because
a. The sound it makes is irritating
b. The Professor will have a fit
c. This loosens and/or damages the parts of the microscope
16. Before and after each lab, you should
a. Wipe down bench tops and chair
b. Clear sinks, bench tops, and floors of any trash/debris
c. Push in your chair