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Multiple Choice
Why is immersion oil often used when viewing specimens under a microscope?
A
To protect the lens from damage.
B
To increase the magnification of the specimen.
C
To enhance the contrast of the specimen.
D
To improve the resolution by reducing light refraction.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of light refraction: When light passes from one medium to another, it bends. This bending can cause a loss of resolution in microscopy.
Learn about numerical aperture: The numerical aperture of a microscope lens is a measure of its ability to gather light and resolve fine specimen detail at a fixed object distance.
Explore the role of immersion oil: Immersion oil has a refractive index similar to glass, which minimizes the bending of light rays as they pass from the specimen slide to the objective lens.
Recognize the impact on resolution: By reducing light refraction, immersion oil allows more light to enter the objective lens, improving the resolution and clarity of the image.
Understand why immersion oil is preferred: It is used to achieve higher resolution at high magnifications, especially with 100x oil immersion objectives, making it easier to observe fine details in specimens.