How to Identify the Ocular Parts of a Microscope
- 1). Locate the eyepiece first. This contains the first ocular lens, known sometimes as the eyepiece lens. The eyepiece will be the topmost piece of the microscope. It is around six inches in length and one inch in diameter. Close one eye, and look down the eyepiece with the other eye to experience the magnification power of the eyepiece lens. This lens has a permanent magnification power of usually 10 to 15 times magnification.
- 2). Locate the objective lenses. These are found on the revolving nose piece at the topmost portion of the microscope's arm. The nose piece contains three to four objective lenses. Only one of these lenses can be used at any given time to view a specimen. Read the labeled magnification on the side of each objective lens to determine its magnification power. Choose the magnification power that best suits your needs for each specimen. Smaller specimens will require higher magnification.
- 3). Identify the stage in order to locate the last lens, the condenser lens. The stage is the platform upon which the specimen sits. It is flat and square or rectangular in shape. The condenser lens is either built into the bottom of the stage or sitting on top of the bottom-most light source of the microscope, known often as the illuminator. The condenser lens' purpose is to focus the illuminator light into one beam on the specimen, which aids the examiner in viewing the specimen.