Question

What is the maximum magnification of a simple microscope for realistic focal lengths, and what arrangement is used to achieve much larger magnifications?

Options

• \[\le 9\]; two lenses are used, one compounding the effect of the other

• \[\le 25\]; a single lens of smaller focal length is used

• \[\le 250\]; two lenses are used, one compounding the effect of the other

• \[\le 9\]; a single lens with larger aperture is used

Answer 1

A simple microscope has a limited maximum magnification (\[\le 9\]) for realistic focal lengths. For much larger magnifications, two lenses are used, one compounding the effect of the other; this arrangement is known as a compound microscope.