Stereo Microscope

 EXPERIMENT NO. 10 STEREO MICROSCOPE

A stereo microscope is an optical microscope that provides a three-dimensional view of a specimen. It is also known by other names such as dissecting microscope and stereo zoom microscope. Dissecting microscope parts include separate objective lenses and eyepieces. As a result, you have two separate optical paths for each eye. The slightly different angling views to the left and right eyes produce a three-dimensional visual. Because it gives the three-dimensional view it is also called as the dissecting microscope.

The Characteristics of a Stereo Microscope

• Two separate objectives
• Two separate optical paths
• Uses the light reflected from the object
• Typical magnification range between 10x and 50x
• Three-dimensional images

 

Working Principle

A stereo or a dissecting microscope uses reflected light from the object. It magnifies at a low power hence ideal for amplifying opaque objects. Since it uses light that naturally reflects from the specimen, it is helpful to examine solid or thick samples. The magnification of a stereo microscope ranges between 10x and 50x.

Additional supplementary/auxiliary lenses can be attached to increase or decrease magnification and adjust working distance based on the user's needs. For instance, if a longer working distance is required than a lens of less than 1x is required: 0.3x, 0.5x, or 0.7x. An ocular lens or eyepiece can allow you to increase the total magnification of your microscope to 300x or higher.

Opaque objects like coins, fossils, mineral specimens, insects, flowers, etc. are visible under a dissecting microscope magnification. More advanced stereo microscopes can allow you to view electrical components and circuit boards.

Uses of Stereo Microscope

A stereo microscope or dissecting microscope has many uses in different science laboratories. Some of the benefits of the stereo microscope in the field of science are as follows:

• Study of live insects
• Analysis of rocks, minerals, and crystals.
• Dissecting a flower
• Analysis of seeds and grains
• Examine soil
• Analysis of pond water for microorganisms
• Microsurgery
• Forensic study
• Examination of fossils
• Repairing circuit boards

Advantages of Stereo Microscope

• It helps view opaque specimens.
• A stereo microscope allows for microphotography. 
• It also helps in 3-D imaging.
• A dissecting microscope enables the view of larger samples as it has a huge working distance.

Disadvantages of Stereo Microscope

• A stereo microscope is very costly.
• It is not applicable for viewing tissue structures, bacteria, and viruses. 
• The dissecting microscope is bulky.
• The maintenance of a stereo microscope is expensive and time-consuming.