Biology / Unit 2 Bio 0243 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Light and Electron Microscopy
Captions available
The idea
A light microscope uses visible light and can image living cells; an electron microscope uses electrons for far higher magnification but kills the specimen.
In practice
A lab light microscope resolves detail near 200 nanometers; an electron microscope resolves detail near 50 picometers.
Where people slip
A student may credit its sharper images to stronger magnification alone, missing the resolving power that actually reveals the extra detail.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Unlocks
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for Biology