There are a few major differences between light microscopes and electron microscopes.
A light microscope uses an attached light source to enable the viewing of objects placed under the microscope, whilst an electron microscope uses beams of electrons that are focused by magnetic lenses.
The detail that can be seen through a light microscope is not as great as that seen through an electron microscope. An electron microscope can show up to 10,000 times the detail of a light microscope, and can show sub cells when in optimum condition. A light microscope can achieve a resolution of 0.2 micrometers, whilst an electron microscope has the capacity to have a resolution of 0.05 nanometers.
The major benefit of a light microscope is that it enables living organisms to be viewed, whilst an electron microscope can only show dead organisms. This is because the beam of electrons that is used to magnify the object destroys the living tissue in question.
The light microscope was invented in the 17th century, and has been a tool that has been one of the most useful in the field of biology, to study various organisms, and how they operate. Most modern light microscopes have built in light sources, although it is still common for mirrors to be used to reflect the image to the eye.
These microscopes were introduced to the world in the 1930s, as an alternative to the light microscope. These microscopes allow for greater detail to be shown, but are also far more expensive than light microscopes.
