Did you just get your hands on a new microscope and are trying to think of some fun or educational ideas for what you can examine at home? We’ve got five simple microscope experiments that are great for students in any school level or even just for at-home microscope aficionados.
Leaves
Clean, dry leaves make great simple experiments. Collect a number of different leaves – some still very green and some browned and dead, and leaves from different kinds of trees – and compare the way they each look under the microscope. You might be surprised to see differences in the detail of the leaf surfaces between the tree species or even from a fresh leaf to one at the end of its life.
Money
Have you ever zoomed way in on a $1 bill? Slide a dollar bill under your microscope to check out the intense detail with which our money is printed and why it’s so hard to make counterfeit cash. You can see all of the nuanced printing that is done to deter counterfeiters – many of which are traits that cannot be seen with the naked eye. If you can, try with different denominations or even with currency from other countries, suggests MicroscopeDetective.
Printed Photos
You know from your use of computers or televisions that many modern displays have small pixels that combine together to provide the full picture. Did you know, however, that is how many printed pictures are produced as well? Take a picture printed off from your home or office printer and put it beneath the microscope. This is a great experiment to practice adjusting focus and magnification, notes MicrobeHunter, and will open children’s eyes to the fact that the big picture is just a series of smaller printed dots!
Insects
Spring is coming, and with it will be the return of many species of insects. That means it could be the perfect time to get a closer look at some of the creepy-crawlies that share our world. Capture a few interesting samples – flies, grasshoppers or other small insects – and place them under the microscope’s lens to get a look at some of their distinct and interesting features like compound eyes or wing structures. Plus, the stereo microscope will provide a three-dimensional view, allowing you to get a better look at these structures in the context of the insect’s body shape.
Crystals
Depending on where you live, you may have a high concentration of naturally forming crystals in the world around you. Quartz is incredibly common all around the country, and there are an incredible number of varieties that can be interesting to compare side by side. You can even bring out your own jewelry, as well, and put that under the ‘scope to get a closer look at the refined cut and features that make jewelry stones to appealing.
These are just a few of the many incredible things you can do with your microscope as you get started. Whether you’re in the market for one to have in your home or to grow your own hobby, Absolute Clarity & Calibration has what you need. Our extensive inventory of microscopes includes something for everyone, whether you’re a casual home user or a passionate hobbyist. Shop the full catalog online now or call us today at 860-583-0502.