Phase contrast microscopy, Biology

Assignment Help:

Phase Contrast Microscopy

Phase contrast microscope has the resolving power similar to ordinary light microscope. However, it enables us to observe the cellular organelles in living cell. The working of this microscope is based on the principle of phase contrast.

To understand phase contrast microscopy you should know that whenever two light waves interfere with each other, the resultant light wave may have either greater or lesser amplitude depending on the phases of the light waves (Figure shown below).

988_phase microscope1.jpg


It is a known fact that a light wave passing through a transparent object suffers a change in phase.

The living cells are heterogeneous in their cellular components having different thickness. Due to this difference, each component has different refractive index. Hence, when a light wave passes through the cell, a change in phase is produced due to differences of thickness and refractive indices of cellular components. The phase contrast microscope exaggerates the small difference between the phases and enables one to distinguish the adjacent structures.


Related Discussions:- Phase contrast microscopy

Explain about the lactose intolerance, Explain about the Lactose Intoleranc...

Explain about the Lactose Intolerance? Lactose is the name of the sugar found in milk. Lactose intolerance, you must be aware by now, occurs when the body is unable to breakdow

Assortment, Assortment is a method in which the meiosis produces new combi...

Assortment is a method in which the meiosis produces new combinations of the genetic information. The paternal and maternal chromosomes line up randomly during the process of syna

What is the average duration of each stage in hours, A biologist examines a...

A biologist examines a series of cells and counts 140 cells in interphase, 10 cells in metaphase, 4 cells in anaphase and 7 cells in telophase. if complete cell cycle requires 24 h

Episode of diarrhoea, An episode of diarrhoea can be acute (recent origin) ...

An episode of diarrhoea can be acute (recent origin) or chronic (extended duration and repeated episodes) in nature. You may recall reading in the Food Microbiology ans Safety Cour

Dissimmilarity between an ecosystem and a biome, What is the difference bet...

What is the difference between an ecosystem and a biome?

What is active transport , The active transport of molecules requires a...

The active transport of molecules requires an input of metabolic energy and this can  be  derived  either  from  direct  coupling  to  the  hydrolysis  of  ATP  or  by coupling to

hypotheses testing, Celia is a nurse in a geriatric ward.  She noticed tha...

Celia is a nurse in a geriatric ward.  She noticed that older persons in her care are having problems sleeping at night.  She decided to introduce non-pharmocologic ways of relaxat

What are the similarities in cloning and selective breeding, Similarities ...

Similarities  in cloning and selective breeding cloning (not transgenesis) and selective breeding both transfer whole genome both selective breeding and cloning have t

Why fats, Why Fats, Oils and Sugar are important for human body? This g...

Why Fats, Oils and Sugar are important for human body? This group imparts flavour to the items and thereby improves the palatability. Items incorporating them do melt in the mo

Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, Q. What is Insulin Dependent Diabetes ...

Q. What is Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus? Mostly children and adolescents suffer from this type of diabetes however; it may appear in adults and elderly too. In this, the

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd