Prescribed lab 1: calculation of magnification of drawings, actual size of structures from drawings or micrographs.

The research question for this lab would be as follows:

What is the effect of magnification on the actual size of structure

• The independent variable: no independent variable

• The dependent variable: no dependent variable

Calculation of Magnification:

To calculate the linear magnification of a drawing or image, the following equation should be used:

• Magnification = Image size (with ruler) ÷ Actual size (according to scale bar)

Calculation of Actual Size:

To calculate the actual size of a magnified specimen, the equation is simply rearranged:

• Actual Size = Image size (with ruler) ÷ Magnification

Light microscopes use visible light and a combination of lenses to magnify images of mounted specimens

• Living specimens can be viewed in their natural color, although stains may be applied to resolve specific structures

When attempting to draw microscopic structures, the following conventions should be followed:

• A title should be included to identify the specimen (e.g. name of organism, tissue or cell)

• A magnification or scale should be included to indicate relative size

• Identifiable structures should be clearly labelled (drawings should only reflect what is seen, not idealised versions)