Question

Resolving power of electron microscope is
A. 1000 angstrom
B. 100 angstrom
C. 1 angstrom
D. 10 angstrom

Answer 1

Hint: The resolving power of a microscope is its ability to differentiate two lines or points in an object. The greater the resolving power, the smaller the minimum distance between two lines or points that can still be distinguished. Different types of microscope have different resolving power.

Complete answer:
Electron microscope is an optical instrument which uses a beam of speed up electrons as a source of illumination. The wavelength of visible light is 1000 times greater than the electrons. This is the reason why these electron microscopes are able to resolve objects that are 1000 times smaller and its resolving power is 10 angstrom.The electron microscope is a huge instrument which consists of an internal vacuum, high voltage, a fast beam of electrons, a cooling system, a cathode filament made of tungsten, electromagnetic lenses for focusing, projection and magnification and a photographic plate for observation.
The electron microscopes have a higher resolving power as compared to the light microscopes. They are able to reveal the structure of smaller objects. Electron microscopes are often used to investigate the ultrastructure of a different range of biological as well as inorganic specimens which includes cells, microbes such as bacteria, large molecules, samples for biopsy, alloys, crystals and metals. With the help of electron microscopes quality control and analysis can also be done. Modern electron microscopes generate electron micrographs using digital cameras and frame grabbers to take the images.

Thus option D is the correct answer.

Note: The electron microscope is said to have high-resolution power. This is due to the low wavelength of the electron beam. As the wavelength of electrons are very short than the visible light the electron microscopes have greater resolving power.