Which of the following factors can affect the resolution of a bright-field microscope?

• A. Wavelength of light used for illumination
• B. Numerical aperture of the objective lens
• C. Temperature of the laboratory
• D. Type of staining used on the specimen

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that resolution in a bright-field microscope refers to the ability to distinguish two close points as separate entities.
2. Recall the formula for resolution (d), which is given by \(d = \frac{0.61 \times \lambda}{NA}\), where \(\lambda\) is the wavelength of light used and \(NA\) is the numerical aperture of the objective lens.
3. Analyze how the wavelength of light (\(\lambda\)) affects resolution: shorter wavelengths improve resolution because they reduce the value of \(d\).
4. Consider the numerical aperture (NA) of the objective lens: a higher NA increases the resolving power by decreasing \(d\).
5. Evaluate other factors such as temperature of the laboratory and type of staining; these do not directly affect the physical resolution limit but may influence image quality or contrast.