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How does a compound microscope produce an enlarged image of a specimen?
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Colour-enhanced scanning electron micrograph (magnified 50×) of a bean aphid on a leaf.
A compound microscope produces an enlarged image of a specimen through the coordinated use of two lens arrays: the objective and the eyepiece.1
The process occurs in two primary stages:
- Formation of a real image: The objective lens, which has a short focal length, is positioned close to the specimen. It captures light from the object to form a real image in the front focal plane of the eyepiece.12
- Formation of a virtual image: The eyepiece then acts as a magnifier, taking the real image formed by the objective and creating an enlarged virtual image that the observer can view.12
The total magnification of the instrument is determined by multiplying the magnifying power of the objective lens by that of the eyepiece. To ensure clear viewing, the microscope also utilizes an illumination system, including a condenser lens, to focus light onto the specimen.13