Re: Just how much can we magnigy?

From: Aaron (nghy_at_comcast.net)
Date: 02/13/05

  • Next message: Dr. Georg N.Nyman: "Re: Just how much can we magnigy?" 
    Date: 12 Feb 2005 19:58:51 -0600

    This is a simple question with a complex answer depending on the type
    of "illumination" and microscope. There are light microscopes,
    electron microscopes and particle accelerators.

     Any attempt to increase the size of an image that does not add to the
    information content is called empty magnification. This is analogus to
    the pixels that show up when you attempt to scale up a digital image.

    The layman expects to see "more" with greater magnification. This is
    not the case. There are limits to magnification determined by the
    physics of the "illumination" and the microscope design.

    Check out this website
    http://www.cas.muohio.edu/~mbi-ws/microscopes/resolution.html

    The resolution of an electron microscope is much much greater than a
    light microscope because the electron is much smaller than the
    shortest wavelenght of visible light.

     A very good light microscope tops out at about 1300X magnification..
    The smallest features that can be resolved with a light microscope are
    0.2 micron (one micron = one millionth of a meter). This is enough
    magnification to see into the cellular structure of tissues.

     A very good electron microscope can easily beat the highest
    magnification of a light microscope. A good transmitted electron
    microscope can resolve features down to molecular and atomic levels at
    fractions of a nanometer (one nanometer = one billionth of a meter).

    The ultimate zoom microscope which you asked about is the particle
    accelerator. It is used to investigate subatomic components and
    especially compnent parts of protons and neutrons. This is not truly
    an image forming device in the same sense of a microscope.
    Information is obtained by slamming sub nucluar particles together and
    looking for whatever can be discovered. At this level we are dealing
    with quantum particle theory at the fringes of our knowledge. As of
    now, structures at this level are not completely understood.

    Aaron

     
    On Fri, 11 Feb 2005 15:50:06 -0000, "Phil C."
    <phildc2005@NOSPAMhotmail.co.uk> wrote:

    >Hi,
    >I was wondering if we were able to zoom in to things as far as we wanted,
    >what would be beyond the atom, and beyond that etc etc? Just how far could
    >we go...would we ever stop finding things or would we hit a point of
    >nothingness?
    >
    >...just curious!
    >
    >Phil
    >

  • Next message: Dr. Georg N.Nyman: "Re: Just how much can we magnigy?"

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