College Physics (4th Edition)

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0073512141
ISBN 13: 978-0-07351-214-3

Chapter 25 - Multiple-Choice Questions - Page 974: 6

Answer

(f) both (b) and (d)

Work Step by Step

Decreasing the wavelength of the light will improve the resolution of a microscope because the shorter the wavelength, the greater the ability to resolve fine details. This is because shorter wavelengths of light are able to diffract less than longer wavelengths, and therefore can form a more sharply-focused image. Decreasing the diameter of the lenses will also improve the resolution of a microscope because a smaller aperture will result in a smaller depth of field. This means that only a narrow range of distances from the lens will be in focus, which will increase the ability to resolve fine details. However, this approach also implies a decrease in the amount of light captured by the microscope and can make it harder to see the object.
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