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An atom can be imaged using an electron beam, since the wavelength of the electron beam is smaller than the atom. This is also the reason it can't be seen using a powerful microscope: the wavelength of light is larger than an atom.
Trever Windler
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoSort of. You can kind of see the crystalline structure of the atoms using an electron microscope, but the sort of microscope that lets you "see" them as more than just dots is a scanning tunneling microscope.
No, the atoms themselves are too small.
However the scanning tunneling microscope and the atomic force microscope can see individual atoms on surfaces. Both use ultrafine point probes that are mechanically scanned across the surface, without actually touching it.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoThey are too small.
Imagine using the patterns of bouncing basket balls to determine the shape of a house fly.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoThe electron microscope is the only device, today, that has the magnification and resolution required to see an individual Atom. Nothing else would work.
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What type of microscopes do scientist use when they want to examine specimens that are smaller than those which can be seen using a light microscope?
They used microscopes call apple microscopes.
What can be seen under a electron microscope and not a light microscope?
An electron microscope has a much higher magnifying power and resolution than a regular light microscope. One can visualize molecules and even atoms using an electron microscope. This is not possible with a light microscope
How very small objects like virus are seen?
These can only be seen under an electron microscope- ordinary microscopes don't have the power to see anything so tiny. Electron microscopes don't actually see the thing itself, but instead they bombard it with a shower of electron particles to create an imprint of it. This can then be magnified to show the detail of the object. The electron microscope was developed in Germany during WW2, and the technology was adopted and developed by the Allied nations following Hitler's defeat.
Why you need to use a electron microscope to examined a virus?
because viruses are very small and can not seen by any light microscope.only electron microscopes that use electron radiation that have wavelenght about .005 nanometer have enough resolving power to detect such a small particles as viruses
What things are looked at through electron microscopes?
Really small things. Because there are limits to how small an object we can observe through a light microscope, we developed the electron microscope. By setting up a sample and streaming electrons at it to resolve an image, we can "see" things smaller than we'd be able to see through a light microscope.
Is there any actual photos of an atom?
Individual atoms can be seen by electron microscopes, and photographs are available. Examples are available online.
Why are electron microscopes capable of reveling details much samller than those seen through light microscopes?
electron microscopes are more powerful than light ones.So that is why I answerd.
How do scientists see the mitochondria and nucleus?
The Nucleus is seen through the use of an Optical Microscope and The Mitochondria is seen through an Electron Microscope.
A virus is 50 nm in size so would you recommend using a stereo compound light microscope or an electron microscope to see it?
Viruses can only be seen with electron microscopes
If everything is made out of particles why cant you see them unless you have a microscope?
Essentially, this is because the particles are too small - only with the most powerful electron microscopes can larger atoms be seen.
Which microscope has better resolution?
The electron microscope because Electron microscopes can obtain pictures of extremely small objects-- much smaller than those that can be seen with light microscopes.
How do you know what an atom looks like if you cant see it?
Some atoms can now be seen with electron microscopes...They can also be moved and positioned using magnetic forces to make simple machines of a molecular size. they are going to use this technology for the manufacture of nano machines.
Can a virus only be seen with electron microscope?
Yes. They are too small to be seen with even the best optical microscopes.
Why dont scientists use electron microscopes on human subjects?
they use electron microscopes on human objects because they need it to look at things too small to be seen with a light compound microscope.
Can SEM microscopes view living cells?
I know that electron microscopes kill cells and require chemical fixation but show a 3d image I know there is one type of electron microscope can see living cells
Objects that are too small to be seen with other microscopes can be observed with a what kind of microscope?
electron microscope
Why are electron microscopes capable of revealing details much smaller than those seen through light microscopes?
Electron microscopes are capable of revealing details as much as 1000 times smaller than those visible in light microscopes because the wavelengths of electrons are much shorter than those of light.
