Final answer:
The magnification of the drawing of protozoa with a 100 mm diameter, when the actual diameter is 250 µm, is 400X. This magnification is plausible for light microscopes used in undergraduate college laboratories. However, a microscope magnification of 250,000, as claimed by the student's friends, is not viable for light microscopes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Magnification of Drawing
To calculate the magnification of a drawing made by observing a protozoa through a microscope, we use the actual diameter of the protozoa and the diameter of the drawing.
The formula for calculating magnification (M) is: M = Drawing size / Actual size.
In this case, the diameter of the drawing is 100 mm (which can be converted to µm by multiplying with 1000 to make units consistent), and the actual diameter of the protozoa is 250 µm. Using the formula:
- Drawing size: 100 mm × 1000 = 100000 µm
- Actual size: 250 µm
So, the magnification of the drawing can be calculated as:
M = 100000 µm / 250 µm = 400X
This magnification is within the typical range for light microscopes as they are commonly used in undergraduate college laboratories and can usually achieve a magnification up to approximately 400X.
Light microscopes have a practical limit of resolution of about 0.2 µm, and using oil immersion lenses can increase magnification to approximately 1000X.
In the context of the information provided, a microscope with an objective lens of 0.500 cm focal length and an eyepiece of 5.00 cm focal length resulting in an overall magnification of 250,000 is not viable.
Realistically, light microscopes can go up to a magnification of around 1,000 to 1,500 times, and electron microscopes can magnify up to about 1,000,000 times.