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GCSE Biology · key term
The ability to distinguish two points that are close together as separate points.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Specification 4.1.1.5 · Paper 1
Revise: Microscopy TechniquesResolution is the ability to distinguish two points that are close together as separate points. If an instrument cannot resolve them, they blur into one feature. A smaller minimum resolvable distance therefore means better resolution.
Specification 1.3, 1.6 · Paper 1, Paper 2
Magnification describes how much larger the image is than the specimen, whereas resolution describes the ability to distinguish two nearby points as separate. Enlarging a poorly resolved image produces a bigger blur. Improved resolution reveals genuinely finer structures.
A smaller resolution value means better resolution because points closer together can be distinguished.
Do not treat magnification and resolution as synonyms: magnification enlarges an image, whereas resolution determines whether nearby details can be distinguished.
When explaining an advance, link the technology to the evidence and then to biological understanding: higher resolution → finer structure observed → a better explanation of function.
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The ability to distinguish two nearby points as separate; greater resolution reveals finer detail.
Specification B1.1a, B1.1c, PAG 1 · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)
The ability to distinguish two nearby points as separate points.
Revise: Light microscopyMagnification tells us how many times larger the image is than the specimen, whereas resolution describes whether two very close points can be distinguished. An image can therefore be highly magnified but still lack fine detail if the microscope cannot resolve it.
The ability to distinguish two points that are close together as separate points; greater resolution reveals finer detail.
The smallest separation at which two points can still be seen as distinct.
Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)
The ability to distinguish two close points as separate; better resolution reveals finer detail.
Revise: Electron MicroscopyMagnification describes enlargement; resolution describes the smallest detail that can be distinguished. If two structures are too close together for a microscope to resolve, enlarging its image will not separate them.
The smallest change in a quantity that a measuring instrument can distinguish or display.
The ability to distinguish two nearby points as separate, rather than seeing one blurred shape.