Light Microscopes?

Question

What is the upper limit of magnification for a light microscope?

Answer 1

there is no limit for magnification. That is infinite.

What is limited however, is resolution, or resolving power. That is basically that smallest size that you can determine two distinct points, or basically the bluriness of the image. So while you can magnify to an infinite amount, there won't be any point because you can't see anything anyway.

The resolving power of a microscope is limited by the wavelength of the beam used. The reason why electron microscopes can magnify further is because hte wavelength (de Broglie wavelength) of an electron is far smaller than any electromagnetic wave.

The very best light classical microscope using the visible range of light has a resolving power of 0.2 micrometers.