The resolving power of a microscope is described as the ability of the microscope to
A) separate clearly two objects that are very close together.
B) magnify an object.
C) separate the colors of an organism's internal structure.
D) magnify structures at various depths in a tissue.
E) combine the images of two objects that are very close together.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The resolving power of a microscope is its ability to distinguish two points or objects that are very close together as separate entities. This is also known as the microscope's resolving ability or resolution. Magnification is a separate characteristic of a microscope and refers to increasing the size of an object. Separating colors or combining images of close objects are not related to the resolving power of a microscope. Similarly, the ability to magnify structures at various depths in a tissue is related to the ability of a microscope to focus at different depths, but not its resolving power.

The Resolving Power of a Microscope Is Described as the Ability