What is the difference the magnify power of a microscope lens and the resolving power of the microscope

Question

Biology Question

Answer 1

Magnifying power is straightforward, it is the factor by which a microscope can enlarge images.

Resolving power is a bit different, it is the smallest object that can be distinguished with the microscope. A good light microscope can see structures that are larger than the wavelength of the light used (so a couple hundred nanometers). This is because the light will ''wash over'' structures that are smaller than the wavelength, rendering these structures invisible.

It is here where the power of the electron microscope comes in, because an electron stream has an exceedingly low wavelength individual atoms can be distinguished with them.