background image

12

Further Experiments: Try out the above proce-
dure with other salts such as Epsom and
Rochelle. Sugar will also crystallize, but you will
need to let it dry overnight for the crystals to
form.

Preparing a Mount

Dip your spatula (

C, Fig. 1) in some clean water

and make a smear across a clean slide. Use
your tweezers (

A, Fig. 1) to place a portion of an

insect—a wing, a leg, or an antenna—on the
slide. Attach a cover slip (

I, Fig. 1) over the spec-

imen and place the slide on the microscope
stage.

Obtain a piece of hair from your head or from
your pet and place it on a wet slide. Try this
again with more than one type of hair on a slide
and compare how they differ. Also try a piece of
fern (or other plant) and pollen and compare
them as well.

To save your slides, put gum media on a clean
dry slide and then position your specimen in the
media. Place a cover slip over the media and
attach a label.

Creating Smears

Using your scalpel (

B, Fig. 1), gently scrape off

small shavings from the surface of a freshly cut
potato. 

Smear the shavings onto a clean slide (see 

Figs.

6 and 7). Clean the scalpel by swishing it in the
flush water. Draw up some water using your eye-
dropper from the cup labeled clean and put one
drop onto the slide. Attach a cover slip to the

Fig. 6

Fig. 7

Summary of Contents for 900X

Page 1: ...Instruction Manual Meade 900X Microscope ...

Page 2: ...2 ...

Page 3: ...p away from young children Gum Media CAUTION Do not swallow In case of accident call a doctor Keep away from young children SAFETY INFORMATION General First Aid Information a In case of eye contact Wash out eye with plenty of water holding eye open if necessary Seek immediate medical advice b If swallowed Wash out mouth with water drink some fresh water Do not induce vomiting Seek immediate medica...

Page 4: ...away from any food storage areas Prepare your slides in a well lit area and close to a water supply A solid table with a heat resistant top should also be used g A separate tin or bucket should be used for the disposal of solid waste materials Any wasted solution should be poured directly down a drain but never into a sink basin h To be used solely under the strict supervision of adults that have ...

Page 5: ...more light that is reflected or transmitted through the hole in the stage the brighter and sharper the images will appear in the microscope eye piece Microscope Features Take a few moments to study Figure 1 and become familiar with the various parts and features of your microscope A Tweezers B Scalpel C Spatula D Prepared Slides E Blank Slides F Gum Media Eosin G Sea Salt Brine Shrimp Eggs H Blank...

Page 6: ...est objective 90X and multiply by the power of your fixed eyepiece 1OX you will magnify the object by 900 times note that the power indicator reads 900 This means that the object appears 900 times larger than it appears to the naked eye Gently turn the power indicator on the objec tive turret R Fig 1 You will feel and hear the objectives lens click into place Practice turning the focus knob X Fig ...

Page 7: ...to slot Gently lift and the base will pop open Insert two AA batteries user supplied in the base Match the positive and negative poles of the batteries with the and markings on the base Fig 3 To replace lid position it over the opening and gently press down until it clicks into place W Focus Knob Slowly turn the knob back and forth to focus an object in the eyepiece Notice what happens to the powe...

Page 8: ...jective turret to change magnification Try Out the Color Filter Locate the color filter J Fig 1 and press it onto the bottom of the stage S Fig 1 Below the stage a fitting will line up with the opening in the center of the filter Rotate the filter to change fil ter colors Remove the filter turn it around 180 and reinstall it onto the stage Two more filter col CAUTION Be careful not to touch the sl...

Page 9: ...y M Fig 1 The brine shrimp eggs included with this set are dried and will remain alive for up to five years if stored in a cool dry place Perform the following procedure to hatch the brine shrimp eggs 1 To hatch the eggs first prepare a brine solu tion Pour the entire contents of the vial con taining the sea salt G Fig 1 into a quart of tap water Add the brine shrimp eggs into the solution Allow t...

Page 10: ...e limited only by your own imagination A section of almost any material can be placed on a slide and observed with a microscope All you need is the proper equipment and a little patience and you ll be making slides in no time Everything you need for the experiments in this booklet can be found in this kit or your home make sure to ask a parent first before you bor row any of his or her items such ...

Page 11: ...f the microscope until it turns on Before reading any further look through the microscope eyepiece and write down what you observe If you carefully performed the experiment you will see little crystal cubes A grain of table salt is made up of many cubes Place one or two grains of table salt on another blank slide and compare it with the slide containing the crystal cubes If you wish to save your c...

Page 12: ...r from your pet and place it on a wet slide Try this again with more than one type of hair on a slide and compare how they differ Also try a piece of fern or other plant and pollen and compare them as well To save your slides put gum media on a clean dry slide and then position your specimen in the media Place a cover slip over the media and attach a label Creating Smears Using your scalpel B Fig ...

Page 13: ... the eosin See note at the left First create a fresh smear you may use shav ings from an apple or other piece of fruit as described previously Do not place any water or a cover slip on the specimen Set the slide aside to dry if necessary When the slide is dry use the eyedropper to place one drop of eosin F Fig 1 on the slide From the cup labeled flush draw up water into the eyedropper Dispose of t...

Page 14: ... other materi als Generally section slides are very difficult to make without special equipment and proce dures However there is one common house hold item which can be sectioned without special equipment the common onion made up of lay ers of tissue Peel off the very thinnest layer you can One that is nearly transparent will make an ideal section Slice into a piece about 1 4 x 1 4 inch Put two dr...

Page 15: ...udy or don t stay in focus for very long soak up a little bit of water with a corner of a paper towel Care for Your Microscope The MEADE 900X Microscope is a precision optical instrument and when treated with care will provide you with years of use and discovery fun Always carry the microscope with two hands one around its arm and one under the base Always remove slides from the stage before putti...

Page 16: ...7 03 ...

Reviews: