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Year 7 · Science · Cells · Lesson 3

Using a microscope

The parts of a light microscope, how to focus safely, calculating total magnification (eyepiece x objective), and preparing an onion cell slide.

Whiteboard video lesson: Using a microscope

17-minute video lesson

Teaching, worked examples and 20 practice questions solved step by step.

Watch free for a month

What your child will learn

  • Name the parts of a microscope
  • Focus a microscope correctly
  • Calculate total magnification
  • Prepare a slide

The method

  1. Lowest power.
  2. Slide + lamp.
  3. Coarse then fine.
  4. Fine only on high.

Key words: microscope, eyepiece, objective lens, magnification, stage, coverslip.

Worked examples

The first three practice questions from the lesson, with every step.

Question 1

Which lens do you look through?

  1. Step 1: Eye

Answer: the eyepiece lens

Question 2

Which part holds the slide?

  1. Step 1: S...

Answer: the stage

Question 3

Which focus do you use first?

  1. Step 1: Big

Answer: the coarse focus