Microscopic scale

The microscopic scale (from Greek: μικρός, mikrós, "small" and σκοπέω, skopéō "look") is the scale of objects and events smaller than those that can easily be seen by the naked eye, requiring a lens or microscope to see them clearly.^[1] In physics, the microscopic scale is sometimes considered the scale between the macroscopic and the quantum regime.^[2][3]

History

By convention, the microscopic scale also includes classes of objects that are most commonly too small to see but of which some members are large enough to be observed with the eye. Such groups include the Cladocera, planktonic green algae of which Volvox is readily observable, and the protozoa of which stentor can be easily seen without aid. The submicroscopic scale similarly includes objects that are too small to see even with any optical microscope.^[4]

Microscopic units and measurements are used to classify and describe very small objects. One common microscopic length scale unit is the Micrometer (μm) - one millionth of 1 meter.

See also

• Macroscopic scale
• Microorganism

References

1. "The microscopic scale". Science Learning Hub. The University of Waikato. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
2. Jaeger, Gregg (September 2014). "What in the (quantum) world is macroscopic?". American Journal of Physics 82 (9): 896–905. Bibcode:2014AmJPh..82..896J. doi:10.1119/1.4878358.
3. Reif, F. (1965). Fundamentals of Statistical and Thermal Physics (International student edition. ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill. p. 2. ISBN 007-051800-9. We shall call a system "microscopic (i.e., "small scale) if it is roughly of atomic dimensions or smaller (say of the order of 10 Å or less).
4. Jaeger, Gregg (September 2014). "What in the (quantum) world is macroscopic?". American Journal of Physics 82 (9): 896–905. Bibcode:2014AmJPh..82..896J. doi:10.1119/1.4878358.