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A light microscope uses a light source but a electron microscope has beams of electrons focused by magnetic lenses.

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The major difference in practice is resolution: the amount of detail that can be discerned in the image.

Under optimal conditions (excellent lenses, oil immersion) the resolution of a light microscope is about 0.2 micrometers (or 0.000,000,2 meters or 2 thousandths of a millimeter). Objects that are closer together cannot be detected as separate. The resolution of an transmission electron microscope is about 0.05 nanometers (or 0.000,000,000,05 meters or half of 1 millionth of a millimeter). This means that the electron microscope has about 10,000 times the resolving power of the light instrument, and can therefore show far greater detail, for example of subcellular structure.

Another difference of importance to biologists is that light microscopes (there are several kinds, such as bright field and phase contrast) enable the viewer to watch living cells. The electron microscope produces an image of the shadows cast by atoms of heavy metals used as stains; the living tissue is destroyed by the intense beam of electrons.

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Explain the difference between a light scanning and electron microscope?

A light microscope uses visible light to illuminate a sample and magnify its image, making it suitable for observing living cells and larger biological structures. In contrast, an electron microscope uses a beam of electrons to create a highly detailed image of the sample at a much higher magnification, enabling the visualization of smaller structures such as viruses and proteins.


What came first electron microscope or light microscope?

compound light microscope - cell theory - electron microscope


What is the difference between a light microscope and an electric microscope?

A light microscope uses visible light to produce an image of a specimen and is used for viewing cells, tissues, and small organisms. An electron microscope, on the other hand, uses a beam of electrons to produce a much higher resolution image and is used for studying structures at the cellular and molecular level.


What is the difference between optical and electron microscope?

Optical microscopes use visible light to magnify objects, providing lower resolution images compared to electron microscopes which use beams of electrons to achieve higher magnification and resolution. Electron microscopes are able to see smaller objects in more detail due to the shorter wavelength of electrons compared to visible light.


What is the difference between an electron and a light microscope?

A light microscope is a simple microscope that magnifies light that it collects and spread onto a screen digitally or optically. Electron microscopes is a microscope that fire electrons onto a object then it is bounced back to form an image. It enlarges the image when it is bounced back. It is fired consistently to receive a constant image. It is viewed with a electronic screen. When the electron is fired it creates light which bounces back as well. It can magnify much bigger than a optical microscope.

Related Questions

What is the major difference between the light microscope and the electron microscope?

Electron microscopes can see much closer than a light microscope, and they use electrons to paint a picture of what the object looks like. Giving a very detailed and small picture that can be viewed on a monitor.


What is the difference of a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope?

A light microscope uses visible light to magnify and view specimens, offering lower magnification and resolution compared to a scanning electron microscope (SEM) which uses a focused beam of electrons to image the sample, providing higher magnification and resolution. SEM can produce 3D images of the sample surface while light microscopes typically provide 2D images.


Explain the difference between a light scanning and electron microscope?

A light microscope uses visible light to illuminate a sample and magnify its image, making it suitable for observing living cells and larger biological structures. In contrast, an electron microscope uses a beam of electrons to create a highly detailed image of the sample at a much higher magnification, enabling the visualization of smaller structures such as viruses and proteins.


What came first electron microscope or light microscope?

compound light microscope - cell theory - electron microscope


What is the differences between a compound and electron microscope?

The compound microscope is a light microscope that uses light to "see" microbes. Viruses are too small.The electron microscope uses electrons to "see" microbes or viruses.


How does an electron microscope differs from a light microscope?

The light microscope use the visible light; the electron microscope use an electrons beam.


What is the difference between ordinary microscope and electron microscope?

Magnification and resolution is in light microscope is about 500x and 0.2micro metres respectively than human eye.In e.microscope magnification is about 200,000x and resolution is 0.0005micro metres. You cannot observe live specimen through electron microscope. Lenses in light microscope are glass while e.microscope use magnetic lenses. E.microscope is relatively very larger than light microscope. You need special knowledge to handle electron microscope. You can observe through naked eye in e.microscope. A beam of electrons is sent through specimen in e.microscope.In light microscope a beam of light is sent. Electron microscope is very complex relative to light microscope.


What is the difference between a light microscope and an electric microscope?

A light microscope uses visible light to produce an image of a specimen and is used for viewing cells, tissues, and small organisms. An electron microscope, on the other hand, uses a beam of electrons to produce a much higher resolution image and is used for studying structures at the cellular and molecular level.


What is the difference in the way the light microscopes and the electron microscopes produce images?

A electron microscope can produce images almost 1000 times more detailed than light microscope cn


What is the difference between optical and electron microscope?

Optical microscopes use visible light to magnify objects, providing lower resolution images compared to electron microscopes which use beams of electrons to achieve higher magnification and resolution. Electron microscopes are able to see smaller objects in more detail due to the shorter wavelength of electrons compared to visible light.


What is a microscope in science?

There is a compound light microscope, an scannignn electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope.


Is a electron microscope a light microscope?

yes