Rocks and Crystals

QX5 also is a good tool for Earth Science or Material Science studies. Many interesting features can be examined in rocks under the microscope. For example, the diversity of textures and colors in volcanic rock can be easily appreciated under the microscope or the differences in crystal forms of real and artificial sugar. Household materials in the spice rack can be interesting. We also had fun look at the mother board of a computer (or similar electronic device with small features).

With the time lapse feature of QX5, one can look at phase transitions (e.g. water melting) or crystal growth. The water melting video (7.9 MB) shown here was made by simply put a small piece of ice on the stage and taking a couple minute time lapse movie (1 snapshot every 3 sec played back at 15 frame/sec).

The crystallization movies are of Epson salt (magnesium sulfate). Equal amount of salt and water was mixed and then heated on a stove top (or microwave) until the salt dissolves upon stirring. Spread a thin film of the solution on a glass microscope; as it cools, the magnesium sulfate will crystallize into beautiful patterns on the slide in a few minutes and this can be captured in a time lapse movie (812 KB).

The second movie with the dark background (polarization microscopy, 5.3 MB) is made with two cheap sheet polarizers- one placed on the stage (and taped) and on the other taped or held between the sample and the microscope lens. The angle needs to be adjusted so that the background image appears dark and the crystal appears bright (this is a special technique called polarization microscopy).

You can buy inexpensive ($29.95) sheet Polarizer, pre-cut into 20 - 2” pieces from Edmund Scientific: Cat. 3041168
http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp?pn=3071939&cmss=3041168

Polarization microscopy is a complicated subject, too advanced for kids. But if you want to know how this works, see
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/techniques/polarized/polarizedhome.html

 

Volcanic Rock	Sugars	Water Melting (mov)	Epson Salt (mov)	Epson Polarized (mov)
click images above for larger image or movie If the movies above do not work, click here for help.