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Forums
Physics
Classical Physics
Optics
Compound Microscope System: Magnification Power Explained
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[QUOTE="sophiecentaur, post: 6521425, member: 199289"] I have a feeling that the 'true' magnifying power of a microscope depends more on the user than people admit. When you buy a Lupe lens (jeweller's lens) the 'magnifying power' is often marked on the side and not the actual focal length. How much bigger the image looks (for a given lens), compared with the object is down to your near point (how good your accommodation is). The closer you can get, with the lens, the bigger the object appears - but it eventually hurts your eyes. I bet the early experimenters had pretty good eyesight in the first place, before bothering with those amazing little 'single lens' microscopes. The optics of a telescope are more straightforward because it's clearly the angular magnification that counts and there's no advantage in focussing at anywhere than near infinity. I think my point is that the figure quoted for a microscope may be a bit better or worse for the user and it would be difficult to estimate just what you are getting. OTOH, a telescope or, better, binoculars can easily be tested against a distant brick wall. View it directly in one eye and through one ocular in the other. A bit of practice may be needed. You can count the number of bricks that fit in the magnified image and Bob's your uncle. There is no simple equivalent with a microscope as you may not even be able to see the object when it's that close. [/QUOTE]
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Forums
Physics
Classical Physics
Optics
Compound Microscope System: Magnification Power Explained
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