A conventional light microscope allows us to magnify cells up to 1000 times and to resolve details as small as ______________.
A conventional light microscope allows us to magnify cells up to 1000 times and to resolve details as small as ______________.
Select an option to attempt
Correct Answer: Option B
Explanation
Resolution limit of a light microscope:The resolution limit of a light microscope is governed by the Abbe diffraction limit:where= wavelength of light, NA = numerical aperture.For visible light () with best NA:Comparison:• Light microscope: resolution ~200 nm (cannot resolve structures smaller than ~0.2 µm)• Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM): resolution ~0.1–1 nm (can resolve individual atoms)• Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM): resolution ~1–10 nmAnswer: ~200 nm (0.2 µm) resolution limit for light microscopy.