⚡ 2. Electron Microscopy

Electron microscopy is for when we want to see very, very small things – even smaller than what a light microscope can show.

💡 How does it work?

• Instead of light, it uses a beam of electrons.
• These electrons pass through or bounce off the object.
• Magnetic lenses focus this beam onto a screen or photographic film.
• The result is a much clearer and bigger image than light microscopy.

🔍 Resolving Power

Electron microscopes can see things as small as 0.2 nanometres (nm).
👉 1 nm = 1/1,000,000 mm

That is 1,000 times better than a light microscope!

🧠 Example:
If you want to see the structure of a virus, you need an electron microscope – light microscopes just aren’t powerful enough.

🚫 Limitation

• Electron microscopes cannot be used to see living things.
• That’s because the sample needs to be cut, dried, and coated with metal, which kills it.

So, electron microscopes are only for dead samples or fixed tissues.