Year 12s: what will be the first way you research your future options? >>

How to calculate magnification of a cell- help!

I know the equation to calculate magnification but I don't quite know how to substitute values, convert them etc. This is what I've done so far...

Observed size= 40 micrometres
Actual size= 60mm =60 000 micrometres
40/60,000= 0.000666666 < that doesn't look right

Can anyone correct me? :confused:

Reply 1

Vampire-Love4ever

Magnification= size of image/ size of object = (40x 10^-6)/(60x10^-3)= 6.67x 10^-4

I got this :s-smilie:

I'm not sure whether it's right.

Im sorry if I am wrong.

Reply 2

Joinedup

Have you got observed and actual reversed?

probably worth 1 out of 2 points for remebering to convert both into the same units anyway.

Reply 3

maljebo

Sighrawr

are you sure you've not got the values mixed up, because a cell which is 60mm would be huge, so maybe you've got the observed size and actual sized mixed up.

if not then your answer is correct, because the observed size is alot smaller than the actual size in this case.

Reply 4

BioSam

Yeah, you've almost certainly muddled observed and actual sizes

If we swap them around:

Magnification = observed/actual = 60000um/40um = 1500

Reply 5

Sighrawr

BioSam

Yeah, you've almost certainly muddled observed and actual sizes

If we swap them around:

Magnification = observed/actual = 60000um/40um = 1500

Yeah, I got them mixed up and got that answer in the end. :rolleyes:

Thanks.

Reply 6

chemicalguy

Magnification = image size / actual size.

1. measure image size in millimeters with yer ruler
2. time by 1000 to convert to microns
3. divide according to above equation

You have reversed the numbers you image is 60 mm = 60000 microns and your actual is 40 microns.

Your mag is therefore 60000 / 40 = 1500