Microscope/Fruit Fly
ART WITH A MICROSCOPE schmied/reid©2000 There are several considerations that you must make when you draw things under a microscope.
1. Subjects are smaller than they appear.
2. Subjects may be reversed, or a mirror image, from their actual position.
3. Subjects may appear flat , but they are really three dimensional.
HOW DO YOU MAKE AN ACCURATE DRAWING? 1. Determine the magnification of the microscope. This is done by multiplying the power of the eye piece by the power of the objective lens. (The power is usually stamped on the lens.)
Example: Eye piece X Objective = Total Magnification
10x Times 40x = 400x ( The x is read as power thus 40 power)
2. Don't worry about the reverse image problem. It is important in unusual situations but is only a problem when moving things under the microscope.
3. Height or thickness of subjects can be determined by moving the focus of the microscope to see different portions of the subject. Stereo microscopes give a 3D view.
4. When drawing microscopic subjects, always use figures format and LABEL THE DRAWING WITH THE MAGNIFICATION USED. Detail is very important in science, particularly when drawing things viewed with a microscope. So be sure your drawings are very detailed.
5. General Guidelines
à Use an unlined separate sheet of paper for your drawings.
à Each drawing must be centered and cover over 60 per cent of the paper .
à Draw a circle with a compass or use a round object with a 14 cm diameter.
à Be sure to use sharp colored pencils to color your drawing. Absolutely No felt pens!
CQC Your teacher will explain acceptable microscope use and then you are ready to observe fruit flies and make a scientific drawing of a fruit fly.
Title: ANESTHETIZING & OBSERVING / DRAWING FRUIT FLIES
Purpose: To observe the characteristics of fruit flies and maintain a viable culture of fruit flies.
Materials: Fruit fly culture, fruit flies, anesthetic, medicine dropper,fly anesthetizer, funnel, containers small piece of white paper, dissecting microscope, and/or hand lens, fine paint brush small plastic ruler.
Procedure:
1. Place one drop of fly nap anesthetizer solution on a q tip.
2. Carefully insert the wetted portion of the Q tip in your fruit fly container's straw hole.
3. Wait about 4 minutes. then see if the flies are asleep. If they aren't wait another minute and recheck
4. When the fruit flies are asleep place them on a white sheet of paper( filter paper works well) and then observe them under a dissecting microscope.
5. Carefully use a fine paint brush to move the flies around to help you observe their different characteristics.
6. When done, return the flies to the culture container or toss outside as directed by your instructor.
Data Collection and Analysis:
All answers must be on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Determine the difference between a male and female fruit fly by careful observation. Then write a short 6T, CQC descriptive paragraph, of the female and also for the male.
2. Draw a detailed CQC drawing of a male or a female following the directions given in the General Guidelines on the first page. Correctly label your specimen as a male or female.
3. What is the diameter, in millimeters, of the field of vision of your microscope on 20 power? On 40 Power?
4 Explain what happens to the microscopic field of view as the power goes up?
5. Determine a fruit fly's length and width in millimeters. Tell how you found this .
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©1999 John Schmied and Mike Reid
