Editing Microscopic scale (section)

=== Light microscopes ===
{{main|light microscope}}
Amongst light microscopes, the utilised [[Objective (optics)|objective lens]] dictates how small of an object can be seen. These varying objective lenses can change the resolving power of the microscope, which determines the shortest distance that somebody is able to distinguish two separate objects through that microscope lens. It is important to note that the resolution between two objects varies from individual to individual,<ref name="Nikon’s MicroscopyU" /> but the strength of the objective lenses can be quantified.<ref name="internationalmedicalaid-2020">{{Cite web  |author=internationalmedicalaid |date=2020-11-19 |title=What Are The 5 Types Of Microscopes And Their Uses |url=https://medicalaid.org/what-are-the-5-types-of-microscopes-and-their-uses/ |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=International Medical Aid |language=en-US}}</ref>

In the 1660s, [[Antonie van Leeuwenhoek]] devised a simple microscope utilising a single spherical lens mounted between two thin brass plates. Depending on the quality of the lens, magnifications of between 70x and 250x were possible. The specimen to be examined was mounted on a  point on a finely threaded rod.<ref name="ALI" >{{cite journal|url=https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Anton-van-Leeuwenhoeks-simple-microscope_fig3_49749832|title= Figure 1. Portrait of Anton van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723)|access-date=2 January 2024|date=October 2010|pages = 311–4|volume = 42|journal = Revista Argentina de microbiología|doi = 10.1590/S0325-75412010000400013
|doi-broken-date= 1 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/news/speeches/colwell/rc01_anatlesson/tsld005.htm|access-date=2 January 2024|title=Leeuwenhoek Microscope|publisher=National Science Foundation}}</ref>

[[Optical_microscope#Compound_microscope|Compound light microscopes]] have a short focal length objective lens which produces a [[real image]]  which is examined using a longer focal length eyepiece. The ratio of the focal length of the objective and the eyepiece, when mounted in a standard tube length, gives an approximate magnification of the system. Due to their design, compound microscopes have  improved resolving power and contrast in comparison to simple microscopes,<ref name="internationalmedicalaid-2020" /> and can be used to view the structure, shape and motility of a cell and its organisms,<ref name="Microbiology Note-2020">{{Cite web |date=2020-07-07 |title=Types of Microscopes with their applications |url=https://microbiologynote.com/types-of-microscopes-with-their-applications/ |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=Microbiology Note |language=en-US}}</ref> which can be as small as 0.1 micrometres.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-05 |title=4.1D: Cell Size |url=https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/Book%3A_General_Biology_(Boundless)/04%3A_Cell_Structure/4.1%3A_Studying_Cells/4.1D%3A_Cell_Size |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=Biology LibreTexts |language=en}}</ref>