Forstørrelsesfaktor

Forstørrelsesfaktor, often translated as magnification factor, refers to the ratio of the apparent size of an object seen through an optical instrument to its actual size. This factor is a crucial specification for devices like microscopes, telescopes, and magnifying glasses. A higher forstørrelsesfaktor means the instrument makes the object appear larger. For instance, a microscope with a forstørrelsesfaktor of 100x will make an object appear 100 times larger than it would to the naked eye.

The calculation of forstørrelsesfaktor typically involves multiplying the magnification of the objective lens (or primary optic) by the magnification of the eyepiece (or secondary optic). For example, if a microscope has an objective lens with 10x magnification and an eyepiece with 10x magnification, the total forstørrelsesfaktor is 10 multiplied by 10, resulting in 100x.

It is important to note that while a higher forstørrelsesfaktor allows for the observation of finer details, it does not inherently improve the resolution of the optical instrument. Resolution refers to the ability to distinguish between two closely spaced points. Excessive magnification without sufficient resolution, known as empty magnification, can lead to a blurred or pixelated image, making it difficult to discern any meaningful details. Therefore, forstørrelsesfaktor should be considered alongside other optical parameters like numerical aperture and resolution limit when evaluating the performance of an optical instrument.