Question

What is resolving power? What effects it?

Answer 1

The resolving power in biology refers to a lens's ability to produce sharp images of closely spaced objects. It is influenced by the wavelength of light and the numerical aperture of the lens.

Step-by-step explanation:

The resolving power in biology laboratories refers to the ability of a lens to produce sharp images of two closely spaced point objects, known as resolution. It is defined by the minimum distance by which two objects can be separated and still be seen as distinct. The resolving power is affected by the wavelength of light used and the numerical aperture of the lens.

For example, shorter wavelengths of light can resolve smaller objects, so electron microscopes with very short wavelengths have higher resolution compared to light microscopes that use longer-wavelength visible light. Additionally, a higher numerical aperture improves resolution because it indicates a lens's ability to gather light.

Answer 2

Resolving power is the smallest separation at which two separate objects can be distinguished (resolved). Resolution is the ability to distinguish between two points on an image i.e. the amount of detail. The resolving power of a microscope is affected by the wavelength of light (400 - 600nm for visible light. To improve resolving power, a shorter wavelength of light is needed. This is why sometimes microscopes are fitted with blue filters. Blue light has the shortest wavelength of visible light.