Compare and contrast the light microscope with the electron microscope.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Both the light microscope and the electron microscope depend on the wavelength of radiation to achieve the resolution necessary to see fine details of specimens. Light microscopes use light rays, which, because of their relatively long wavelengths, limit the magnification of these microscopes to 2000× or less. Electron beams, by contrast, have such a short wavelength that the resolution is greatly increased, to the point that magnification of 100,000× or more is possible. Both microscopes are capable of modulating and focusing their radiation sources in such a way as to increase the quality of the magnification; however, in a light microscope the light rays are focused using glass lenses, whereas in an electron microscope the electron beam is focused with magnetic fields. Because of their higher levels of magnification and extreme resolving power, electron microscopes are capable of revealing the finest details of the cell's ultrastructure, even molecules and atoms; light microscopes are capable of revealing only the larger cellular structures, such as organelles.