Final answer:
The statement that electron microscopes can resolve images smaller than those resolved by light microscopes is true, due to the use of shorter wavelength electrons, allowing higher magnification and resolution despite the limitation of only viewing non-living specimens.
Step-by-step explanation:
The answer to the student's question is true. Electron microscopes have significantly higher resolving power than light microscopes due to the use of electrons with shorter wavelengths compared to the photons used in light microscopy. While electron microscopes provide greater detail and magnification, they require the specimen to be non-living as the preparation process kills the specimen, and the microscope operates in a vacuum, making it unsuitable for living cells.
Light microscopes do have the advantage of being able to view live specimens, but they are limited in resolution and magnification by the wavelength of visible light, often maxing out at about 1000× to 1500× magnification. In contrast, electron microscopes can greatly surpass this magnification, revealing much smaller details of the specimen's surface.