The most important property of a microscope is its resolutioncloseresolutionThe fineness of detail that can be seen in an image - the higher the resolution of an image, the more detail it holds. In computing terms, resolution is measured in dots per inch (dpi). - the ability to show detail.

Multispectral image

“Multispectral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/multispectral. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Hyperspectral imaging

Their resolution can show details that are 0.0001µm apart - allowing us to clearly see inside the parts of a cell e.g. inside a chloroplastclosechloroplast Part of a cell that carries out photosynthesis. Chlorophyll inside the chloroplast traps sunlight. or mitochondrionclosemitochondriaStructures in the cytoplasm of all cells where aerobic respiration takes place (singular is mitochondrion)..

Magnification can be calculated using a scale bar. This is a line drawn near the photograph or drawing which has a label showing the actual length of the bar before being magnified.

Light spectrum

The best light microscope can show details that are 0.2µm apart and need a magnification of roughly x1500 so that our eyes can see it - this allows us to see larger cell structures.

The above equation can be rearranged in order to calculate the actual length of the cell and the magnification used as well as the length of the image.

Electron microscopes pass beams of electrons through a specimen and have a much greater resolution than a light microscope.