Final answer:
The resolving power of a microscope, key in biology laboratories, is it's ability to differentiate between two closely spaced objects. The smaller the distance between two discernable objects, the greater the resolution. Resolution is ultimately limited by the diffraction of light waves.
Step-by-step explanation:
The resolving power of a light microscope refers to its ability to discriminate between two closely spaced point objects. This is crucial to generate clear images with sufficient detail. The smaller the distance 'x' by which two objects can be differentiated as distinct, the greater the resolution.
The resolving power gets its definition from the Rayleigh criterion; two objects are resolvable when the minimum angular separation is achieved. Thus, in reality, the resolving power of the lens is that distance 'x'.
Microscopes usage at the undergraduate college laboratory level can magnify up to approximately 400 times. Magnification and resolving power are vital parameters in microscopy. Magnification enlarges an object's appearance while the resolving power of a microscope distinguishes two adjacent structures as separate. The higher the resolution, the closer the two objects can be, and the better the clarity of the image.
When using oil immersion lenses, which are typically employed for studying smaller cells like prokaryotic cells, the magnification increases up to 1,000 times. However, it's important to note the resolving power is ultimately limited by light wave diffraction, which usually renders a practical limit of resolution at about 0.2 µm for most microscopes.
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