Microscope Practical Skills Simulator (v9)

Bright, lesson-friendly version with Pre-lesson (worked examples) and Practice (you type the workings and check).

Step 1: Calibrate
What you need to do
  1. Calibrate the eyepiece graticule using the stage micrometer (align 0→0, count graticule divisions and micrometer divisions, then save).
  2. Measure the specimen by counting eyepiece graticule divisions between two points to determine the actual length of the specimen.
  3. Calculate magnification of your drawing using diagram size (cm) and actual size (µm).
When you are ready to try it out on your own, head over to the Practice version (toggle at the top-right).
Task mode: Calibration Measuring: OFF Drawing: LOCKED

Controls

Pre-lesson
Eyepiece
10×
Total magnification
40×
Divisions
100 divisions
Typical stage micrometer: 1 mm divided into 100 parts → 10 µm per small division.
Align 0→0, then find the next coincidence line. Count how many graticule divisions match how many micrometer divisions.
Quick demo: click two micrometer tick marks to estimate spacing (not recommended for strict practical accuracy).
Cell sizes apply only to animal/plant cell specimens.
Drawing & magnification tools unlock after you successfully compute an actual size for the current specimen.
Magnification working
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Interactive View

Calibration: align micrometer 0 with graticule 0, then count.
Objective: 4× Total: 40× Slide: Micrometer
Zoom: 1.0× Clicks: 0/2

Biological drawing (no labels)

Drawing length: ____ cm
Magnification prompt
Magnification of drawing = × (diagram size (cm) / actual size (micrometer)) = × ____ cm / ____ µm = × ____ µm / ____ µm = × ____ (1d.p.)
You may use the computed output (actual size) and your measured diagram size to calculate magnification.
Practice input (optional in Practice version)
In Practice version, you will type the full working and click “Check answer”.
Zoom 1.00×
Zoom enlarges the whole eyepiece view. It does not change magnification or calibration.
Status: Loaded.
Working
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Computed output
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Tip: Drag to move stage. Graticule stays fixed (eyepiece). Measuring only captures clicks when enabled.

Practical Coach

Pre-lesson
Saved calibrations
4×: —
10×: —
40×: —
Current objective details
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Common mistakes
• Not aligning 0-to-0 before counting
• Mixing graticule divisions vs micrometer divisions
• Changing objective but using old calibration
• Thinking zoom changes magnification (it doesn’t)
• Clicking to move the stage while measuring is enabled

Unit conversion table

Multiply / Divide reference
From To Multiply by Divide by Example
m cm × 100 ÷ 100 1 m = 100 cm
cm mm × 10 ÷ 10 1 cm = 10 mm
mm µm × 1000 ÷ 1000 1 mm = 1000 µm
cm µm × 10,000 ÷ 10,000 1 cm = 10,000 µm
m µm × 1,000,000 ÷ 1,000,000 1 m = 1,000,000 µm