Comparison between a Light and
Electron Microscope
Abstract:
The question I am testing is which microscopes is the best for magnification. The microscopes I will be testing are light, transmission electron and scanning electron microscopes. I chose 4 different factors to consider when testing my question, which is magnification, colour image, ease of preparing specimens and ability to view living specimens. From my results the Scanning Electron Microscope is the best for magnification. However light microscopes are best for colour image, ability to view living specimens and ease of preparing specimens.
Introduction:
The question I am testing is which microscope out of a light and an electron microscope is the best for magnification. The microscopes I am testing are light, transmission electron and scanning electron microscopes. This is relevant so we can look at a specimen in more detail and see it in a clearer image, by choosing the best microscope. To investigate this we researched the information on the internet from using reliable resources. From the conclusion I found that light microscope was the best to look at different specimens.
Method:
I researched the methods to test which is the best microscopes, by using reliable sources. I chose 4 different factors to consider testing my question, which is magnification, colour image, ease of preparing specimens and ability to view living specimens. To ensure my method was reliable I firstly check when the website was last update. Plus the websites used were updated and published by scientists.
I chose magnification as one of my factors, because it is important as you need to see the specimen in detail and focus. Plus sometimes you need to see small specimens in much more detail. I also chose colour image because you need to see thing in more detail and depending on the wavelengths is there a colour image. Ease of preparing specimens as it better to test a specimen that takes less time to prepare. Finally the ability to view a living specimen as you can observe different living organism that has the ability to get a wide range of biological activity.
Results:
Factor to consider
Light
TEM
(Transmission electron microscopes)
SEM
(Scanning Electron Microscope)
Which is best and why?
Magnification of image
1000-2000 times
2million
You can get a 2D image of the specimen
2million
You can get a 3D image of the specimen
SEM is better as you get a 3D image of the specimen therefore you get a more clear and detail image of the specimen
Colour image
You can see colour because of the wavelengths
You cannot see any colour. The image is show in black and white
You cannot see any colour. The image is show in black and white
Light is better as you can see the image clear and in more detail then image being in black and white.
Ability to view living specimens
Ability to observe living cells. Possible to observe a wide range of biological activity, such as the uptake of food, cell division and movement.
The sample must be completely dry. This makes it impossible to observe living specimens. It is not possible to observe moving specimens (they are dead)
The sample must be completely dry. This makes it impossible to observe living specimens. It is not possible to observe moving specimens (they are dead).
Light as it can observe living organisms and has the ability to observe a wide range of biological activity.
Ease of preparing specimens
Specimen preparations normally take a few minutes to a few hours
Specimen preparation normally take several days
Specimen preparation normally take several days
Light as it takes less time to prepare and less time consuming
The table shows magnification of image, colour image, ability to view living specimens and ease of preparing specimens of all three microscopes. It also shows that scanning electron microscope is best for magnification of an image, whereas a light microscope is better form colour image, ability to view living specimens