Use this interactive to identify and label the main parts of a microscope. Drag and drop the text labels onto the microscope diagram.
- high-power objective: For increased magnification – usually 10x, 40x and 100x magnificationhigh-power objective
- coarse focus adjustment: Moves the lens up or down and adjusts focuscoarse focus adjustment
- base: The bottom of the microscope used for stabilitybase
- fine focus adjustment: Moves the lens in order to make very small adjustments to gain better focusfine focus adjustment
- diaphragm or iris: Varies intensity of the light projected upwards onto the slidediaphragm or iris
- eye piece lens: The lens you look through – normally 10x or 15x magnificationeye piece lens
- stage: Where the slide is held/placedstage
- light source: Sends light onto the specimen/slidelight source
All microscopes share features in common. In this interactive, you can label the different parts of a microscope. Use this with the Microscope parts activity to help students identify and label the main parts of a microscope and then describe their functions.
Drag and drop the text labels onto the microscope diagram. If you want to redo an answer, click on the box and the answer will go back to the top so you can move it to another box. If you want to check your answers, use the Reset incorrect button. This will reset incorrect answers only. When you are happy with your selection, use the Check answers button to check them. Use Reset all to practise again from the start.
For optimal viewing of this interactive, view at your screen’s default zoom setting (100%) and with your browser window view maximised.
| Labels | Description |
| eye piece lens | The lens you look through – normally 10x or 15x magnification |
| coarse focus adjustment | Moves the lens up or down and adjusts focus |
| fine focus adjustment | Moves the lens in order to make very small adjustments to gain better focus |
| base | The bottom of the microscope used for stability |
| high-power objective | For increased magnification – usually 10x, 40x and 100x magnification |
| stage | Where the slide is held/placed |
| diaphragm or iris | Varies intensity of the light projected upwards onto the slide |
| light source | Sends light onto the specimen/slide |
