What is the primary function of a compound microscope?

What is the primary function of a compound microscope?

• A. To reflect light
• B. To magnify small objects
• C. To measure distances
• D. To project an image

Answer: (B)

The primary function of a compound microscope is to magnify small objects. This magnification capability is essential for allowing observers to see details that are not visible to the naked eye. A compound microscope typically utilizes multiple lenses: an objective lens that captures light from the object and creates a magnified image, and an ocular lens through which the viewer looks to see a further enlarged image. This combination of lenses enables users to examine specimens at various levels of detail depending on the lenses used, making it a powerful instrument in biological and material sciences for studying tiny structures like cells, bacteria, and other micro-scale details. The ability to magnify objects is fundamentally what characterizes the compound microscope, distinguishing it from other instruments that may focus on different functionalities, such as measuring distances or projecting images.

The primary function of a compound microscope is to magnify small objects. This magnification capability is essential for allowing observers to see details that are not visible to the naked eye. A compound microscope typically utilizes multiple lenses: an objective lens that captures light from the object and creates a magnified image, and an ocular lens through which the viewer looks to see a further enlarged image.

This combination of lenses enables users to examine specimens at various levels of detail depending on the lenses used, making it a powerful instrument in biological and material sciences for studying tiny structures like cells, bacteria, and other micro-scale details. The ability to magnify objects is fundamentally what characterizes the compound microscope, distinguishing it from other instruments that may focus on different functionalities, such as measuring distances or projecting images.