Question

If one wants to observe more details in a microscopic specimen, would the best way be increasing the resolution or increasing the magnification?

Answer 1

Magnifying the specimen means that you can view the specimen `larger`, however when you increase the resolution you are increasing the `amount of detail` that can be observed, very much like when you want to click a picture.

When you zoom in you are magnifying the picture, but remember how when you zoom in too much your picture becomes really fuzzy and unclear? but you can see the image you are zooming in on much larger?

Now if you are using a good camera you have the ability to select how many pixels should be used in each picture. This is your resolution. Sometimes if you want to click a really good picture you'll use HD (high definition), other times you just use the regular. In effect you are controlling the resolution of your camera

Answer 2

Thank you!