The scanning electron microscope

The scanning electron microscope (SEM) is capable of creating images of the surfaces of objects at very high magnification. It's amazing the detail that can be seen using this piece of equipment.

Have a look at these images and try to guess what they are of (the answers are at the bottom of this post)

1. (image width approx. 1mm)

2. (image width approx. 0.010mm)

3. (width of bottom image 0.025mm)

4. (image width 1mm)

5. (image width 0.015mm)



Answers:

1. A seed of the tabacco plant

2. Pollen grains from many types of flowers

3. E = red blood cells L=white blood cell

4. The gills of a fish

5. Cholera bacteria