Compare and contrast the structure and function of a compound light microscope and a dissecting microscope. Be sure to discuss when each would be more useful than the other.

Question

shainabeans · Answer

A dissecting microscope is used to help guide the physical dissection of specimens. It will usually have a larger tray to hold the specimen and larger eyepieces for easier viewing. It isn't used for investigating microbes.
A light microscope is a bit more compact and has much higher power and can be used for some examinations of microbes. It uses natural light to illuminate the specimen under investigation whereas a dissecting microscope usually has added electric lights to illuminate the specimen as clearly as possible.