What distinguishes an electron microscope from a light microscope?

The distinguishing feature of an electron microscope compared to a light microscope is its higher resolution capability. Electron microscopes utilize electrons instead of visible light to illuminate the specimen. This is significant because electrons have much shorter wavelengths than visible light, allowing electron microscopes to create images with much finer detail.

This increased resolution enables scientists to observe structures at the nanoscale, such as individual proteins or viruses, which would be beyond the capabilities of traditional light microscopes. While light microscopes are limited to a resolution of about 200 nanometers due to the wavelength of visible light, electron microscopes can achieve resolutions in the range of 1 nanometer, making them invaluable tools in fields like materials science and cellular biology.

Other options like the use of visible light and lower magnification pertain to light microscopes specifically and do not address the enhanced abilities provided by electron microscopes. The notion of broader wavelength is also misleading, as the electron microscope uniquely benefits from the shorter wavelengths associated with electrons, rather than utilizing a broader spectrum of visible light.