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On a compound microscope, the power that is best for viewing cell organelles is the _____________.

a) High power
b) Low power
c) Medium power
d) Oil immersion power

User RexE
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Final answer:

The best power for viewing cell organelles on a compound microscope is Oil immersion power, which allows for a 1000X magnification with a resolution of 0.2 µm, providing the necessary detail.

Step-by-step explanation:

The power that is best for viewing cell organelles on a compound microscope is d) Oil immersion power. The oil immersion lens is designed to achieve a high total magnification of 1000X and has a resolution of 0.2 µm, which is crucial for observing the detailed structure of cell organelles. The use of oil reduces the amount of light refraction, allowing for a clearer image with better resolution.

Light microscopes in college biology labs typically magnify up to 400 times, but when focusing on smaller objects like prokaryotic cells or cell organelles, stronger magnification and resolution are required. Compared to lower magnifications, the oil immersion lens enables students to see the finer details by increasing the resolving power, thus making it possible to distinguish intricate components within cells.