Part(s) Function " " Used to view the specimen on the slide. The eyepiece contains the microscope's second magnifying lens, the ocular lens. This lens usually has a 10x magnifying power. The eyepiece is usually tube-shaped and black in color. It is located at the top of the microscope. " " Most compound light microscopes have three or four different objective lenses. The most common magnification powers are 4X, 10X, and 40X. When coupled with a 10X ocular lens in the eyepiece, you get total magnifications of 40X (4X times 10X), 100X, and 400X. The objective lenses are transparent and are typically held up by a silver coated tube. It is located below the holder for eye piece and ocular lens. " " It is necessary to place the specimen on a slide when viewing under a compound light microscope. This transparent rectangular glass holds the specimen in place while still allowing light to travel through it. You would use a thin, clear cover slip to cover the specimen. This keeps the specimen in place and keeps the lenses and microscope clean, especially if you use a dye to stain the specimen to enhance contrast and visibility. The slide resembles a transparent glass and is placed on the stage of the microscope to study the specimen. Are placed on the stage for viewing. Slide clips hold the slides in place on the stage. Turning specific dials on the microscope moves the stage and allows you to investigate the entire specimen. The stage is usually a black colored rectangular plate located just below the objective lenses. Used to make the magnified image you are viewing clear and focused. The dials are located on the side of the microscope; the smaller outermost dial is the fine focus and the larger innermost is the coarse focus. These dials are shaped like a knob. " " The compound light microscope uses a light source below the stage to illuminate the slide. Light travels through the thin specimen and gl