Magnification Calculations
Magnification is how many times bigger the image of a specimen observed is in
comparison to the actual (real-life) size of the specimen
The magnification (M) of an object can be calculated if both the size of the image (I),
and the actual size of the specimen (A), is known
An equation triangle for calculating magnification
Worked example
An image of an animal cell is 30 mm in size and it has been magnified by a factor of X
3000.
What is the actual size of the cell?
To find the actual size of the cell:
The size of cells is typically measured using the micrometre (μm) scale, with cellular
structures measured in either micrometers (μm) or nanometers (nm)
When doing calculations all measurements must be in the same units. It is best to use
the smallest unit of measurement shown in the question
To convert units, multiply or divide depending if the units are increasing or decreasing
Magnification does not have units
Converting units of measurement
There are 1000 nanometers (nm) in a micrometre (µm)
There are 1000 micrometres (µm) in a millimetre (mm)
There are 1000 millimetres (mm) in a metre (m)
Worked example
Step 1: Check that units in magnification questions are the same
Remember that 1mm = 1000µm
2000 / 1000 = 2, so the actual thickness of the leaf is 2 mm and the drawing thickness is 50 mm
Step 2: Calculate Magnification
Magnification = image size / actual size = 50 / 2 = 25
So the magnification is x 25
Eyepiece Graticules & Stage Micrometers
An eyepiece graticule and stage micrometer are used to measure the size of the
object when viewed under a microscope
The type of microscope and magnification used can vary signficantly so the eyepiece
graticule needs to be calibrated each time when measuring objects
The calibration is done using a stage micrometer, this is a slide with a very accurate
known scale in micrometres (µm)
The eyepiece graticule is a disc placed in the eyepiece with 100 divisions, this has no
scale
To know what the graticule divisions equal at each magnification the eyepiece graticule
is calibrated to the stage micrometer at each magnification
Using stage micrometer & eyepiece graticule
A stage micrometer alongside an eyepiece graticule.
In the diagram, the stage micrometer has three lines each 100 µm (0.1 mm) apart
Each 100 µm division has 40 eyepiece graticule divisions
40 graticule divisions = 100 µm
1 graticule division = number of micrometres ÷ number of graticule division
1 graticule division = 100 ÷ 40 = 2.5 µm this is the magnification factor
The calibrated eyepiece graticule can be used to measure the length of the object
The number of graticule divisions can then be multiplied by the magnification factor:
graticule divisions x magnification factor = measurement (µm)
Exam Tip
The calculations involving stage micrometers and eyepiece graticules are often seen in
exam questions, so make sure that you are comfortable with how to calibrate the
graticule and calculate the length of an object on the slide.
