Science
How does a microscope work?
A microscope works by using lenses to bend light and magnify tiny objects far beyond what the eye can see. Light passes through the specimen and a series of lenses enlarge the image, revealing cells, microbes, and fine structures.
See it in motion.
Watch a 2-minute animated lesson that shows exactly how a microscope works.
Step by step
- 1Light shines through or onto a tiny specimen.
- 2An objective lens close to the sample makes a magnified image.
- 3An eyepiece lens magnifies that image further.
- 4Total magnification is the two lenses multiplied together.
- 5Electron microscopes use electron beams to see even smaller things.
Frequently asked questions
- How does a microscope magnify?
- Two lenses work together: an objective lens enlarges the specimen, and the eyepiece enlarges that image again, multiplying the magnification.
- What's the limit of a light microscope?
- Light's wavelength limits it to objects no smaller than about 200 nanometers; electron microscopes go far beyond that.
- What can you see with a microscope?
- Cells, bacteria, blood components, and fine details of materials — things far too small for the naked eye.