Website Detail Page
published by the Imaging Technology Group
supported by the NASA and the National Science Foundation
The Virtual Microscope project provides cost-free simulated scientific instrumentation for students and researchers worldwide as part of NASA's Virtual Laboratory initiative. This site supports and shares data from three instruments: a scanning electron microscope, a fluorescence light microscope, and an atomic force microscope. The automated data capture software is shared with users via a Java application that provides a simulation of the group's actual microscope interfaces. The magnification controls allow the user to explore any point of interest on the sample. Also included is a set of specimen annotation tools for teachers and learners. In addition to the datasets, the website provides training materials and animated tutorials that explore the basics of each imaging method.
The Virtual Microscope is an open source project developed by the Imaging Technology Group, part of the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Please note that this resource requires Flash, or Quicktime, or Xuggle.
Please note that this resource requires Java (JRE).
This resource is part of a Physics Front Topical Unit.
Topic: Particles and Interactions and the Standard Model
Unit Title: Microscopy: Observing at the Nanoscale
This project, part of NASA's Virtual Laboratory initiative, makes free scientific instrumentation data available to students and teachers worldwide. The site supports and shares data from 3 instruments: a scanning electron microscope, a fluorescence light microscope, and an atomic force microscope. It's shared via software that provides a simulation of the group's actual microscope interfaces. The controls allow you to explore any point of interest on the sample at your own work station, plus provides robust annotation tools for keeping your own records of specimen data.Link to Unit:
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Contains Virtual Microscope: Training
A link to the tutorial page of Virtual Microscope with animations on basic functions of SEM, AFM, and LM microscopy.relation by Caroline Hall
Contains Virtual Microscope: Light Microscopy Basics
A highly detailed animated tutorial on light microscopy, including simple and compound microscope anatomy, polarized microscopy, darkfield, and fluorescent microscopy. Appropriate for AP physics or for a course in electricity and magnetism.relation by Caroline Hall
Contains Virtual Microscope: Scanning Probe Microscopy Basics
An animated tutorial that describes how scanning probe microscopes work to "read" the surface of nanoscale samples and provide image data.relation by Caroline Hall
Contains Virtual Microscope: Scanning Electron Microscopy Basics
A link to an animated tutorial on the structure and function of a Scanning Electron Microscope. Appropriate for high school and undergraduate education.relation by Caroline Hall
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