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CAIE A Level Biology 9700 · Cell structure

Cell structure: explain question

Explain5 marksStandard

A student is comparing the capabilities of a light microscope and a transmission electron microscope (TEM) for viewing cellular structures. The following table shows some specifications:

Microscope typeMaximum resolutionMaximum useful magnification
Light microscope200 nm1500×
TEM0.2 nm500,000×

Explain why the electron microscope can achieve a much higher resolution than the light microscope. In your answer you should define resolution and explain how it relates to magnification.

0 words · 5 marks

No account needed for your first marks. Your answer is used only to mark it.

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.

Explain means: Give the reasons or the mechanism: why or how something happens. Link each point to the next with because, so or which means. A list of facts with no links usually loses the reasoning marks.

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