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What's the difference between a
"stereoscope" and a "microscope"?
A stereoscope is a binocular microscope (also
known as a "dissecting microscope") that magnifies at a relatively low power
for viewing three-dimensional, opaque objects, such as flowers, insects, mineral
specimens, fossils, coins, or really anything! Generally the magnification
of a stereoscope is between 20x and 50x, and specimens are lighted from
above .
A biological or compound microscope might have a binocular OR
monocular head, and magnifies at a much higher power than a stereoscope. A
compound microscope is designed for viewing small cells, or thin sections of organs or
tissues placed on a glass mounting slide. The specimens are thin enough
that light can pass through them from below. Magnifications of microscopes
are generally from 40x to 1000x.
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