Final answer:
The microscope that creates images using scattered secondary electrons is the scanning electron microscope (SEM), which is capable of producing high-resolution, three-dimensional surface images without requiring thin specimen sections.
Step-by-step explanation:
The high-powered microscope that produces an image from scattered secondary electrons is the scanning electron microscope (SEM).
A scanning electron microscope functions by using a focused beam of electrons to scan the surface of a specimen. The electrons interact with the atoms that make up the sample, resulting in the emission of secondary electrons. The collection and detection of these scattered electrons enable the SEM to produce high-resolution, three-dimensional images of the sample. Because the SEM analyzes surface details and does not require the specimen to be as thin as samples prepared for TEM, it is particularly useful for examining the texture and topography of surfaces.
While transmission electron microscopes (TEM) are also electron microscopes, they are used to view thin sections of a sample, which allows electrons to pass through and create an image. TEM offers higher magnification and resolution but does not provide the same surface detail as SEM.