What is a comparative microscope?
Comparative microscope consists of two separate microscopes connected together and used to compare two objects or samples. The type of device called an optical bridge allows the user to display both samples simultaneously. This type of microscope is important in the enforcement of law - in the area of criminal forensic and ballistic analysis. It allows to compare bullets and fragments of bullets and other forensic evidence that can be compared to each other that can be used to prove guilt or to liberate the suspect in some crimes.
The microscope is one of the most important inventions in the history of humanity. This has made it possible to progress many sciences and revolutionize many of our thoughts of almost every physical science and even stimulated the creation of new sciences. The idea of a combination of two microscopes that allow the study of two samples at a time was only an extension of well -developed technologies used to create standard microscopes. The optical bridge of the time comparative microscope was nothing more than two pairs of mirrors,One for each microscope that directed individual images into one viewer and produced in the view alongside both samples in one picture.
The invention of this new type of microscope has resulted in the development of many scientific disciplines, especially ballistics and criminal forensic. The ability to examine and compare two samples side by side has allowed to positively determine whether two balls were burned from one weapon or from different weapons. Using a test missile as an inspection also made it possible to determine whether a particular bullet was fired from a particular weapon or not.
Many other uses for a comparative microscope in forensic form followed by its invention. Samples of almost any material can be compared to determine transmission or trace evidence. Hair samples and fingerprints can be compared in this way. Manuscripts and biological samples such as bacteria and algae can also be compared. Toolmarks can be comparedTo identify which tools were used on the object or to match the reference tool known to have been used in a crime.
Modern technologies have made many improvements to the basic comparative microscope. Computers and optics threads allow you to display images on monitors or projection screens and overlap through others. There may be many options such as lighting, magnification degrees and the ability to photograph samples in a comparative microscope.