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XI.—THE TEACHING OF THE USE OF THE POLARIZING MICROSCOPE
Author(s) -
Hartshorne N. H.,
Stuart A.
Publication year - 1951
Publication title -
journal of the royal microscopical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0368-3974
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1951.tb01966.x
Subject(s) - microscope , optics , polarization (electrochemistry) , computer science , interference microscopy , lens (geology) , extinction (optical mineralogy) , physics , chemistry
SYNOPSIS It is emphasized that students must fully understand the optics of the lens system of the polarizing microscope, and also that they must acquire the ability to “see” in three dimensions, so as to appreciate clearly the relationships between the optical and morphological vectors of crystals. To achieve the second of these requirements free use should be made of skeletal models in teaching and some suitable models for this purpose are described. Another teaching aid which the authors regard as indispensable is the projection microscope. Suggestions are made regarding the best ways in which polarization colours, extinction and extinction angles, and interference figures may be explained and demonstrated. Special considerations affecting the teaching of biologists are mentioned. Finally the equipment and lay‐out of the teaching laboratory are discussed, and a new type of lock‐up working table is described.