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Why is the electron microscope more powerful than the optical microscope?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Short Answer:
Electron microscopes have much better resolution and are capable of much higher magnification than light microscopes because the wavelength of the electrons is thousands of times smaller than the wavelength of light.
Light microscopes can typically resolve structures to a fraction of a micron compared to electron microscopes which in practice achieve resolutions of a few nanometers. Practically, electron microscope can have almost a thousand times greater resolution than an optical microscope.
The useful magnification of an electron microscope is also in the range of a thousand times greater than an optical microscope.
The actual performance of any microscope depends on its design and lensing system and so significant variation exists in the above practical characteristics and performance of both types of microscopes can be enhanced in various ways.
Long Answer:
An electron microscope uses an electron beam to illuminate a specimen and produce the image.
An optical or light microscope uses a light beam to illuminate a specimen and produce the image.
A microscope of either type is characterized by its magnification and resolving power. The magnification depends on the lensing system and can be increased to any degree, but the maximum useful magnification is limited by the resolving power.
The resolving power of a microscope can not be better than the limits placed on it by the size of the wavelength of the illuminating beam. The smaller the wavelength, the smaller the structures that can be resolved in them image.
Visible wavelengths of light are a few hundred nanometers. An electron microscope operates with electrons accelerated to a few hundred thousand electron volts of energy and with a wavelength in the range of few hundredths of an Angstrom.
An electron microscope has a theoretical resolving power that is much greater than a light microscope and can reveal smaller structures because the electrons used have wavelengths (few hundredths of Angstroms) almost 100,000 times shorter than visible light (few hundred nanometers).
An optimized electron microscope can achieve a practical resolution of a few Angstroms and a useful magnifications in the millions of times.
A good light microscope can resolve structures smaller than a micron but is limited to about a few hundred nanometers resolution. The useful magnification of a light microscope is not much more than a thousand times.
The electron microscope uses electrostatic and electromagnetic fields to act as lenses to control and focus the electron beam and to form an image. An optical or light microscope employs glass lenses.
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∙ 11y ago
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What is one important advantage an optical microscope has over a more powerful electron microscope?
It is cheaper and used to observe larger objects. Electron microscopes look at much smaller things such as atoms.
Who invented the electron microscope?
German physist Ernst Bruche invented it with the help of his assistant, Ernst Ruska. Sadly, his assistant betrayed him, and went to work for someone else. Ernst Ruska got the Nobel Prize for his invention, but it should have belonged to Ernst Bruche.Some Electron Microscope History:It is widely accepted that the first PROTOTYPE of an electron microscope was built by Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll in 1931; it was not more powerful than an optical microscope, but it demonstrated the principle that is still used in today's sophisticated and powerful instruments, and earned its builders a share of a Nobel Prize. In 1933, Ruska built a a new prototype instrument that was more powerful than any optical microscope, but still just an experimental instrument.The first PRACTICAL electron microscope was not constructed until 1938, by Eli F Burton of the University of Toronto along with students Cecil Hall, James Hillier and Albert Prebus.There does not seem to be any literature linking Ernst Ruska to Ernst Bruche, nor any literature relating any claim by Bruche to developmental work on the electron microscope. Some bibliography is going to have to be provided in order for the sad tale of Ruska betraying Bruche to be credible.
Why does an electron microscope have more resolving power than an optical microscope?
Short Answer:Electron microscopes have much better resolution and are capable of much higher magnification than light microscopes because the wavelength of the electrons is thousands of times smaller than the wavelength of light.Light microscopes can typically resolve structures to a fraction of a micron compared to electron microscopes which in practice achieve resolutions of a few nanometers. Practically, electron microscope can have almost a thousand times greater resolution than an optical microscope.The useful magnification of an electron microscope is also in the range of a thousand times greater than an optical microscope.The actual performance of any microscope depends on its design and lensing system and so significant variation exists in the above practical characteristics and performance of both types of microscopes can be enhanced in various ways.Long Answer:An electron microscope uses an electron beam to illuminate a specimen and produce the image.An optical or light microscope uses a light beam to illuminate a specimen and produce the image.A microscope of either type is characterized by its magnification and resolving power. The magnification depends on the lensing system and can be increased to any degree, but the maximum useful magnification is limited by the resolving power.The resolving power of a microscope can not be better than the limits placed on it by the size of the wavelength of the illuminating beam. The smaller the wavelength, the smaller the structures that can be resolved in them image.Visible wavelengths of light are a few hundred nanometers. An electron microscope operates with electrons accelerated to a few hundred thousand electron volts of energy and with a wavelength in the range of few hundredths of an Angstrom.An electron microscope has a theoretical resolving power that is much greater than a light microscope and can reveal smaller structures because the electrons used have wavelengths (few hundredths of Angstroms) almost 100,000 times shorter than visible light (few hundred nanometers).An optimized electron microscope can achieve a practical resolution of a few Angstroms and a useful magnifications in the millions of times.A good light microscope can resolve structures smaller than a micron but is limited to about a few hundred nanometers resolution. The useful magnification of a light microscope is not much more than a thousand times.The electron microscope uses electrostatic and electromagnetic fields to act as lenses to control and focus the electron beam and to form an image. An optical or light microscope employs glass lenses.
What are the advantages of an electron microscope over a light microscope - 46k?
An Electron microscope is more sophisticated. They use electrons and allow you to magnify objects up to 2000000x and view said objects in 3D.
Which microscope has a better resolution a light microscope or a electron microscope?
An electron microscope is capable of much higher resolution and greater magnification than a light microscope.Short Answer:Electron microscopes have much better resolution and are capable of much higher magnification than light microscopes because the wavelength of the electrons is thousands of times smaller than the wavelength of light.Light microscopes can typically resolve structures to a fraction of a micron compared to electron microscopes which in practice achieve resolutions of a few nanometers. Practically, electron microscope can have almost a thousand times greater resolution than an optical microscope.The useful magnification of an electron microscope is also in the range of a thousand times greater than an optical microscope.The actual performance of any microscope depends on its design and lensing system and so significant variation exists in the above practical characteristics and performance of both types of microscopes can be enhanced in various ways.Long Answer:An electron microscope uses an electron beam to illuminate a specimen and produce the image.An optical or light microscope uses a light beam to illuminate a specimen and produce the image.A microscope of either type is characterized by its magnification and resolving power. The magnification depends on the lensing system and can be increased to any degree, but the maximum useful magnification is limited by the resolving power.The resolving power of a microscope can not be better than the limits placed on it by the size of the wavelength of the illuminating beam. The smaller the wavelength, the smaller the structures that can be resolved in them image.Visible wavelengths of light are a few hundred nanometers. An electron microscope operates with electrons accelerated to a few hundred thousand electron volts of energy and with a wavelength in the range of few hundredths of an Angstrom.An electron microscope has a theoretical resolving power that is much greater than a light microscope and can reveal smaller structures because the electrons used have wavelengths (few hundredths of Angstroms) almost 100,000 times shorter than visible light (few hundred nanometers).An optimized electron microscope can achieve a practical resolution of a few Angstroms and a useful magnifications in the millions of times.A good light microscope can resolve structures smaller than a micron but is limited to about a few hundred nanometers resolution. The useful magnification of a light microscope is not much more than a thousand times.The electron microscope uses electrostatic and electromagnetic fields to act as lenses to control and focus the electron beam and to form an image. An optical or light microscope employs glass lenses.
What is one important advantage an optical microscope has over a more powerful electron microscope?
It is cheaper and used to observe larger objects. Electron microscopes look at much smaller things such as atoms.
What is more powerful than an electron microscope?
Superman.
What instrument uses light and lenses is used to view cells?
An optical microscope uses light and one or more lenses to view cells. An optical microscope with two or more lenses is called a compound optical microscope.
Is it true An electron microscope is usually used for microorganisms that are not possible to observe with any instrument?
Yes, the electron microscope is capable of more than 100,000 times magnification compared to only a few thousand times for a regular light-illuminated optical microscope.
Which instrument do scientists use to observe DNA?
Usually, a scanning electron microscope is used to observe atoms.
Are light microscopes more powerful than electron microscopes?
Yes, electron microscopes have a much higher possible magnification than compound light microscopes. An electron microscope is capable of 10,000,000 times magnification, whereas a good compound light microscope is capable of 1,000 - 2,000 times magnification.
Who invented electron microscope?
German physist Ernst Bruche invented it with the help of his assistant, Ernst Ruska. Sadly, his assistant betrayed him, and went to work for someone else. Ernst Ruska got the Nobel Prize for his invention, but it should have belonged to Ernst Bruche.Some Electron Microscope History:It is widely accepted that the first PROTOTYPE of an electron microscope was built by Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll in 1931; it was not more powerful than an optical microscope, but it demonstrated the principle that is still used in today's sophisticated and powerful instruments, and earned its builders a share of a Nobel Prize. In 1933, Ruska built a a new prototype instrument that was more powerful than any optical microscope, but still just an experimental instrument.The first PRACTICAL electron microscope was not constructed until 1938, by Eli F Burton of the University of Toronto along with students Cecil Hall, James Hillier and Albert Prebus.There does not seem to be any literature linking Ernst Ruska to Ernst Bruche, nor any literature relating any claim by Bruche to developmental work on the electron microscope. Some bibliography is going to have to be provided in order for the sad tale of Ruska betraying Bruche to be credible.
Who invented the electron microscope?
German physist Ernst Bruche invented it with the help of his assistant, Ernst Ruska. Sadly, his assistant betrayed him, and went to work for someone else. Ernst Ruska got the Nobel Prize for his invention, but it should have belonged to Ernst Bruche.Some Electron Microscope History:It is widely accepted that the first PROTOTYPE of an electron microscope was built by Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll in 1931; it was not more powerful than an optical microscope, but it demonstrated the principle that is still used in today's sophisticated and powerful instruments, and earned its builders a share of a Nobel Prize. In 1933, Ruska built a a new prototype instrument that was more powerful than any optical microscope, but still just an experimental instrument.The first PRACTICAL electron microscope was not constructed until 1938, by Eli F Burton of the University of Toronto along with students Cecil Hall, James Hillier and Albert Prebus.There does not seem to be any literature linking Ernst Ruska to Ernst Bruche, nor any literature relating any claim by Bruche to developmental work on the electron microscope. Some bibliography is going to have to be provided in order for the sad tale of Ruska betraying Bruche to be credible.
What microscopes show more detail?
An electron microscope would certainly show more detail than a compound microscope. An electron microscope can zoom up to 1,000,000x.
Viruses can be observed using an?
microscope or for more detail an electron microscope
Who invented the microscope in 1656-1930?
The first microscope was made around 1595 in Middelburg, Holland. Three different eyeglass makers have been given credit for the invention: Hans Lippershey (who also developed the first real telescope); Hans Janssen; and his son, Zacharias. The coining of the name "microscope" has been credited to Giovanni Faber, who gave that name to Galileo Galilei's compound microscope in 1625. (Galileo had called it the "occhiolino" or "little eye".) The most common type of microscope-and the first to be invented-is the optical microscope. This is an optical instrument containing one or more lenses that produce an enlarged image of an object placed in the focal plane of the lens(es). There are, however, many other microscope designs. "Microscopes" can largely be separated into three classes: optical theory microscopes (Light microscope), electron microscopes (e.g.,TEM), and scanning probe microscopes (SPM). Optical theory microscopes are microscopes which function through the optical theory of lenses in order to magnify the image generated by the passage of a wave through the sample. The waves used are either electromagnetic (in optical microscopes) or electron beams (in electron microscopes). The types are the Compound Light, Stereo, and the electron microscope. I NOTE!!!If you still have not found your answer please email me at yodog213@yahoo.com.
The nucleus of a cell can be viewed through what kind of microscope?
An Electron Microscope is used to study the contents of a nucleus.
