Microscopes and Crystals - National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

More documents

Recommendations

Info

ACTIVITY 16: USING MICROSCOPES TO INVESTIGATE BIREFRINGENCE m6: Microscopes and Crystals 1. Make crystals (Epsom salt, vitamin C, and copper sulfate) or use the crystals you made in Activity 14. In your Science Notebook, write down the procedure you used in making the three types of crystals. Be sure to include solvents other than water that you used. Also include any questions that you have about crystals or crystal making. 2. Look at the crystals made by other students. Are they all the same shape and size? Describe similarities and differences in your Science Notebook. 3. If you made these same crystals again, what would you do to make sure that your crystals were the largest they could be? 4. In your Science Notebook, draw and label each crystal sample. 5. Discuss with other students in your class the similarities and differences among the drawings. Also discuss your answers to the questions you wrote in your Science Notebook. 6. Now, look at your crystal samples using 2 polarizers and the field microscope. How to use the polarizers: " Place one polarizer under the slide containing the crystal sample. " Place the slide and the polarizer on the stage of the microscope. " Place the other polarizer on top of the eyepiece of the field microscope. " While looking at the different crystals, rotate the lens on top of the eye piece. Notice and record which crystals are birefringent. (Crystals that are birefringent will produce beautiful colors as the top polarizer is turned.) 7. In your Science Notebook, create a chart or some other way of recording data. Write down the name of the crystal, draw what the crystal looks like, and tell whether or not the crystal is birefringent. Using calcite to observe birefringence: Calcite is a natural birefringent material. Place a glass slide over some text and observe the writing. Now place a calcite crystal over the same writing and observe what you see. How is this different from what you saw when you looked at the writing through the plain glass slide? SCIENCE, OPTICS & YOU GUIDEBOOK - 158 -
m6: Microscopes and Crystals STUDENT SELF-CHECK MODULE 6: MICROSCOPES AND CRYSTALS Now that you have completed Module 6, follow the directions below as a selfcheck to see if you need more practice. 1. Describe or draw how the letter “e” looks when you look at it through the water droplet magnifier. 2. How is the field microscope different from other magnifiers? 3. What advice would you give to a classmate who was going to make crystals? 4. Some crystals have special properties that you can see using polarizers. Draw or describe in words what you saw when you looked at copper sulfate with the field microscope. SCIENCE, OPTICS & YOU GUIDEBOOK - 159 -
Page 1 and 2: MODULE m6 MICROSCOPES AND CRYSTALS
Page 3 and 4: ACTIVITY 13: EXPLORING MICROSCOPES
Page 11 and 12: ACTIVITY 14: MAKING CRYSTALS m6: Mi
Page 19 and 20: ACTIVITY 15: WHAT VARIABLES AFFECT
Page 29 and 30: Day 2 1. First use your hand lens t
Page 35 and 36: ACTIVITY 16: USING MICROSCOPES TO I
Page 41: ACTIVITY 16: USING MICROSCOPES TO I

Microscopes and Crystals - National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?