A student uses a light microscope to measure the width of a plant cell. The student has an eyepiece graticule with 50 divisions and a stage micrometer with 100 divisions per mm. The student aligns the scales and finds that 10 divisions on the eyepiece graticule coincide exactly with one division on the stage micrometer. The cell's width is measured as 8 divisions on the eyepiece graticule. Describe the steps the student should take to calculate the actual width of the cell in micrometres, including the calibration process and the conversion of units.
CAIE A Level Biology 9700 · Cell structure
Cell structure: describe question
Describe5 marksStandard
How this question is marked
5 marks, so the mark scheme is looking for about 5 separate creditworthy points. Making the same point twice in different words earns it once.
Describe means: Say what happens or what something is like, in order and with detail. You are not being asked why. If there is data, quote it: name the trend, then give figures with units at the points where it changes.
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