Question: what is the difference between a electron microscope and a light microscope?

Asked by adam to Lee on 22 Jun 2011.

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  1. Photo: Lee WalshLee Walsh
    answered on 22 Jun 2011:

    A light microscope focuses a beam of light onto the sample so that it can be seen.

    An electron microscope focuses a beam of electrons on to the sample.

    When using a microscope what limits how small you can see is the wavelength of the the beam you are focussing on you sample. Electrons have a shorter wavelength than visible light so they can see much smaller things. However to look at things under an electron microscope the sample needs more preparation and there are some limits to what you can look at.

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