A Level Biology Practice Exam

Which type of microscope uses visible light and glass lenses to magnify objects?

1. Laser scanning microscope

2. Electron microscope

3. Light microscope

4. Phase contrast microscope

The correct answer is: Light microscope

The light microscope uses visible light and glass lenses to magnify objects. This type encompasses the basic principle of optics, where visible light is passed through or reflected from a sample and then magnified by lenses to enable viewing. Light microscopes can be used to observe live specimens, cells, tissues, and microorganisms, making them essential tools in biology. Laser scanning microscopes, while advanced and capable of enhanced imaging, utilize laser technology rather than standard visible light in their functioning. Electron microscopes, on the other hand, employ electrons instead of visible light for imaging, providing much higher resolution but requiring samples to be in a vacuum and generally non-living. Phase contrast microscopes are specialized types of light microscopes that enhance contrast in transparent and unstained specimens but still fundamentally operate using visible light. However, the defining characteristic of using visible light and glass lenses for magnification aligns specifically with the light microscope, confirming its role as the answer.