AQA · Biology · 8461

GCSE Biology: Microscopy

Cell biology · AQA GCSE Biology (8461), specification point 4.1.1.5. Cards are generated from the exam board's own specification for "Microscopy", and every card links back to the page it came from. Specification © AQA — used with attribution.

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  1. Why can an electron microscope study cells in finer detail than a light microscope?

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    It has much higher magnification and resolving power, so smaller structures can be distinguished.

  2. How has electron microscopy increased biologists' understanding of cells?

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    Its higher magnification and resolution let biologists see and understand many more sub-cellular structures.

  3. What is the formula for magnification in microscopy?

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    magnification = size of image ÷ size of real object

  4. What does the prefix 'micro' mean in units such as micrometre?

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    One millionth (10⁻⁶) — 1 μm = 0.000001 m.

  5. What does the prefix 'nano' mean in units such as nanometre?

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    One billionth (10⁻⁹) — 1 nm = 0.000000001 m.

  6. How many micrometres are there in one millimetre?

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    1000 μm (1 mm = 10⁻³ m; 1 μm = 10⁻⁶ m).

  7. A cell 0.05 mm wide appears 25 mm wide in an image. What is the magnification?

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    ×500 (25 ÷ 0.05 = 500).

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