Question: Suppose a compound microscope is used underwater so that the lenses are surrounded by water rather than air. Assuming the resolution is limited by diffraction

Suppose a compound microscope is used underwater so that the lenses are surrounded by water rather than air. Assuming the resolution is limited by diffraction and described by the Rayleigh criterion, will operating the microscope in water improve or degrade the ultimate resolution of the microscope? By what factor will this resolution be changed? The answer to this problem tells why oil immersion lenses are useful for very high-resolution work.

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