Difference between Light Microscope and Electron Microscope

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The difference between light microscope and electron microscope is that in an electron microscope, an electron beam is used to magnify the image of an object whereas, visible light is used in the light microscope to magnify images of spotted areas of materials. The light microscope and electron microscope are the two most common types of microscopes. Each of these microscopes has unique features and is suitable for a variety of applications. Here, we will discuss the other differences between light and electron microscopes.

Table of Content

Light Microscope
Electronic Microscope
Difference between light and electron microscopes
Things to Remember
Sample Questions

Key Takeaways: Light microscope, Electronic microscope, Wavelength, Images, Electrons, Microscope, Electron beam, Light, Bacteria, Fungus, Microorganisms

NCERT Solutions of: Class 12 Physics Chapter 11 Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter

Light Microscope

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A light microscope is a tool used to study microbodies such as bacteria, fungus, and others in order to identify their characteristics. It also allows for the examination of small objects that are not visible to the naked eye.
It is a device that enlarges images of microorganisms and other small entities by using light rays and lenses. The object must be placed on a specific platform, and the microbe must be viewed through the eyepieces.
There are two kinds of light or optical microscopes: simple and compound. The simple one enlarges objects by utilizing the visual capacity of a single or multiple lenses. In the case of compound lenses, one lens is placed near the substance to view it.

Light Microscope

Light Microscope

Electronic Microscope

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An electron microscope, on the other hand, is a device that uses electron beams to capture and magnify images.
It is a sophisticated tool that allows users to see smaller entities in high resolution.
It allows you to magnify objects to nanometre scales and carefully examine them.

Electron Microscope

Electron Microscope

Difference between Light Microscope and Electron Microscope

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Both the light and electron microscopes use radiation in order to form complete images of the objects which are out of reach from the human eye. Though the initial function of both tools is to magnify objects, there is a difference between light and electron microscopes.

Light Microscope	Electron Microscope
Zacharias Janssen invented it in 1590.	Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll invented in 1931
Visible light is the source of illumination	An Accelerated Beam of Electrons from a tungsten filament is the source of illumination
450 to 750mm is the wavelength of light.	0.5 A is the wavelength of the electron beam.
Uses optical lenses to bend the light beam to form the image of the specimen.	Uses electromagnets to bend the beam of electrons to form the image of the specimen.
Illuminating light passes through the air.	An illuminating beam of electrons passes through the vacuum.
Vacuum conditions are not required.	Vacuum condition Is required.
Focusing is done by adjusting the lens position mechanically.	Focusing is done by adjusting the power of the electric current to the electromagnetic glasses.
The specimen is mounted on a glass slide.	The specimen is mounted on a metallic grid.
It is cheap.	It is expensive
Size is smaller and can be operated by a desktop instrument.	Size is much larger, separate systems are involved.
Colour photography is possible.	Colour photography is not possible.
Imaging in living cells is possible and hence cellular vessels are visualized.	Imaging in living cells is not possible and hence cellular vessels are visualized
The Natural Colour of the Specimen is visualized.	The natural colour of the Specimen is not visualized.
Image can be observed through the naked eye.	Image cannot be observed through the naked eye.
The magnification limit is less, the limit is 1500X.	The magnification limit is very high, possible limit is 500000X
The limit of Resolution is -200 nm	The limit of resolution is 0.1 nm
Poor surface view	Rich surface view
The cooling system is absent	The cooling system is present
It is Simple	It is Complex

Also Read: Experimental Study of Photoelectric Effect

Things to Remember

Microscopes are used in medicine to aid in the diagnosis of illnesses, research, scientific research, medical research, and environmental research.
Micrographia published by Robert Hooke included hand-drawn images of samples viewed through a microscope's lens.
The first microscopes were used to study insects and were dubbed "flea glasses."
The magnified image in an electron microscope is created by using electrons rather than light.
Ernst Ruska invented the first electron microscope, the transmission electron microscope, in 1931.

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Sample Questions

Ques: What is a light microscope? (3 marks)

Ans: A light microscope is a biology laboratory instrument or tool that detects, magnifies, and enlarges very small objects using visible light. Lenses are used to focus light on the specimen, magnifying it and creating an image. Normally, the specimen is placed close to the microscopic lens.

Light microscopes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Simple light microscopes magnify an object with a single lens and cannot achieve high magnification. To produce images, compound light microscopes employ two sets of lenses: an objective lens and an eyepiece. Monocular microscopes only have one eyepiece, whereas binocular microscopes have two and reduce eye strain.

Ques: What are the functions of a light microscope? (2 marks)

Ans: The light microscope's operation is based on its ability to focus a beam of light through a very small and transparent specimen to produce an image. The image is then magnified using one or two lenses before being viewed. The specimen's transparency allows light to pass through easily and quickly. Bacterial, cell, and other microbial particles are examples of specimens.

Ques: State the advantages of Light microscope. (3 marks)

Ans: The advantages of light microscope are as follows:

Purchase price is low.
Operating costs are low.
Small and transportable
Sample preparation is simple and straightforward.
Preparation rarely causes material distortion.
There is no need to vacuum.
The sample's natural colour was preserved.

Ques: What is an electronic microscope? (3 marks)

Ans: An electron microscope is a type of microscope that illuminates with a beam of accelerated electrons. Because an electron's wavelength can be 100,000 times shorter than that of visible light photons, electron microscopes have a higher resolving power and can reveal the structure of smaller objects than light microscopes.

Ques: What are the advantages of an electronic microscope? State the uses. (5 marks)

Ans: When compared to light microscopes, electron microscopes have two significant advantages:

They have a much greater magnification range (can detect smaller structures)
They have a significantly higher resolution (can provide clearer and more detailed images)

Uses of electronic microscope are include:

Microorganisms, cells, large molecules, biopsy samples, metals, and crystals are among the many biological and inorganic specimens studied using electron microscopes.
Electron microscopes are frequently used in industry for quality control and failure analysis.
Modern electron microscopes generate electron micrographs by capturing images with specialised digital cameras and frame grabbers.
The electron microscope was instrumental in the advancement of the science of microbiology. The study of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens has greatly improved disease treatment.

Ques: What are the limitations of electron microscopes? (5 marks)

Ans: The limitations of electronic microscope include:

The live specimen is not visible.
Because the electron beam's penetration power is so low, the object should be ultra-thin. Before observation, the specimen is dried and cut into ultra-thin sections.
Because the EM operates in a vacuum, the specimen must be completely dry.
Expensive to construct and maintain
Image artefacts caused by specimen preparation necessitate researcher training.
This type of microscope is large and cumbersome, and it is extremely sensitive to vibration and magnetic fields from outside sources.

Ques: State the principle of electronic microscope: (4 marks)

Ans: The electronic beam is produced by a heated tungsten filament that emits electrons. A high voltage is applied between the cathode (the tungsten filament) and the anode, which excites the electrons and causes them to move quickly towards the condenser lens. The electronic beams are focused through the specimen by the condenser lenses, and electrons are scattered depending on the thickness or refractive index of different parts of the specimen.

Denser regions of the specimen scatter more electrons, making the image darker because fewer electrons strike that area of the screen. Transparent areas, on the other hand, are brighter. The electron beam exiting the specimen is directed to the objective lens, which has a high magnification and creates the intermediate magnified image. The projector's image is projected onto a fluorescent screen, which can be replaced with a photographic plate to create a permanent record.

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Difference between Light Microscope and Electron Microscope

Light Microscope

Electronic Microscope

Difference between Light Microscope and Electron Microscope

Things to Remember

Sample Questions

CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

1.
If both the number of protons and the neutrons are conserved in each nuclear reaction, in what way is mass converted into energy (or vice versa) in a nuclear reaction? Explain.

2.
Two small identical metallic balls having charges \( q \) and \( -2q \) are kept far at a separation \( r \). They are brought in contact and then separated at distance \( \frac{r}{2} \). Compared to the initial force \( F \), they will now:

3.
Write any two features of nuclear forces.

4.
What is displacement current (\( i_d \))? Considering the case of charging of a capacitor, show that \( i_d = \varepsilon_0 \frac{d\Phi_E}{dt} \). What is the value of \( i_d \) for a conductor across which a constant voltage is applied?

5.
If Bohr’s quantization postulate (angular momentum \( = \frac{nh}{2\pi} \)) is a basic law of nature, it should be equally valid for the case of planetary motion also. Why, then, do we never speak of quantization of orbits of planets around the Sun? Explain.

6.
Photoemission of electrons occurs from a metal (\( \phi_0 = 1.96 \, \text{eV} \)) when light of frequency \( 6.4 \times 10^{14} \, \text{Hz} \) is incident on it. Calculate: Energy of a photon in the incident light, The maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons, and The stopping potential.

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Difference between Light Microscope and Electron Microscope

Light Microscope

Electronic Microscope

Difference between Light Microscope and Electron Microscope

Things to Remember

Sample Questions

CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

1. If both the number of protons and the neutrons are conserved in each nuclear reaction, in what way is mass converted into energy (or vice versa) in a nuclear reaction? Explain.

2.Two small identical metallic balls having charges \( q \) and \( -2q \) are kept far at a separation \( r \). They are brought in contact and then separated at distance \( \frac{r}{2} \). Compared to the initial force \( F \), they will now:

3. Write any two features of nuclear forces.

4.What is displacement current (\( i_d \))? Considering the case of charging of a capacitor, show that \( i_d = \varepsilon_0 \frac{d\Phi_E}{dt} \). What is the value of \( i_d \) for a conductor across which a constant voltage is applied?

5. If Bohr’s quantization postulate (angular momentum \( = \frac{nh}{2\pi} \)) is a basic law of nature, it should be equally valid for the case of planetary motion also. Why, then, do we never speak of quantization of orbits of planets around the Sun? Explain.

6.Photoemission of electrons occurs from a metal (\( \phi_0 = 1.96 \, \text{eV} \)) when light of frequency \( 6.4 \times 10^{14} \, \text{Hz} \) is incident on it. Calculate: Energy of a photon in the incident light, The maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons, and The stopping potential.

Comments

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWS LETTER

1.
If both the number of protons and the neutrons are conserved in each nuclear reaction, in what way is mass converted into energy (or vice versa) in a nuclear reaction? Explain.

2.
Two small identical metallic balls having charges \( q \) and \( -2q \) are kept far at a separation \( r \). They are brought in contact and then separated at distance \( \frac{r}{2} \). Compared to the initial force \( F \), they will now:

3.
Write any two features of nuclear forces.

4.
What is displacement current (\( i_d \))? Considering the case of charging of a capacitor, show that \( i_d = \varepsilon_0 \frac{d\Phi_E}{dt} \). What is the value of \( i_d \) for a conductor across which a constant voltage is applied?

5.
If Bohr’s quantization postulate (angular momentum \( = \frac{nh}{2\pi} \)) is a basic law of nature, it should be equally valid for the case of planetary motion also. Why, then, do we never speak of quantization of orbits of planets around the Sun? Explain.

6.
Photoemission of electrons occurs from a metal (\( \phi_0 = 1.96 \, \text{eV} \)) when light of frequency \( 6.4 \times 10^{14} \, \text{Hz} \) is incident on it. Calculate: Energy of a photon in the incident light, The maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons, and The stopping potential.