island country in the western Pacific
Ocean. It is made up of more than 600
islands. The capital is Palikir.
The country belongs to the region called
Micronesia, which is part of the Oceania
region. The country is divided into four
states: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae.
The largest islands are the peaks of
underwater volcanoes. Atolls, or large
rings of coral, make up the rest of the
land. The climate is hot and humid.
Rain forests grow on the volcanic
islands. Coconut, palm, and breadfruit
trees grow on the atolls. The country’s
waters are rich in fish, porpoises, turtles,
and giant clams.
The largest group of people is the
Chuukese. The Pohnpeians, the Yapese,
and the Kosraeans form smaller groups.
Nearly everyone is Christian. There are
at least eight local languages. English is
also common.
The country’s economy depends on
money from the United States. Most
people work for the government or as
fishers and farmers. Crops include coconuts,
bananas, pepper, and other fruits
and vegetables. Tourism is a growing
industry.
People came to Micronesia more than
2,000 years ago. Spain made the islands
a colony in the late 1800s. Germany,
Japan, and the United States all had
turns as ruler after the Spanish left.
The Federated States of Micronesia
gained independence from the United
States in 1986. However, the U.S. military
still protects the country.
..More to explore
Oceania • Palikir
Fishers use nets in Micronesia.
Facts About
MICRONESIA
Population
(2008 estimate)
110,000
Area
271 sq mi (701
sq km)
Capital
Palikir
Form of
government
Republic
Major towns
Weno, Tol, Palikir,
Kolonia, Colonia
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Micronesia, Federated States of 119
Microscope
A microscope is a device that magnifies
tiny objects, or makes them look larger.
People use microscopes to see objects
that are too small to be seen with the eye
alone. Such objects include cells, tiny
living things, and grains of sand.
Optical Microscopes
There are several types of microscopes.
Optical microscopes, also called light
microscopes, work like magnifying
glasses. They use lenses, which are
curved pieces of glass or plastic that
bend light. The object to be studied sits
under a lens. As light passes from the
object through the lens, the lens makes
the object look bigger.
A special type of optical microscope is a
compound microscope. A compound
microscope has a light that shines on the
object from above or below. A lens near
the object makes a larger image (picture)
of the object. This lens is called an
objective lens. Another lens, known as
the eyepiece, bends the light again. As a
result, the eyepiece forms an even bigger
image of the image made by the objective
lens.
The size of an image depends on the
lenses used. For example, an objective
lens might make an object appear 10
times larger than it really is. This lens is
said to have a magnification of 10.. If
the eyepiece also has a magnification of
10., the total magnification of the
microscope is 10 times 10, or 100..
The magnification of a compound light
microscope can go up to about 1,000..
This magnifying power makes it possible
Young students use microscopes to study
tiny objects.
Some compound optical microscopes can
make objects appear 1,000 times larger
than their actual size.
120 Microscope BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
to study tiny living things such as bacteria,
algae, protozoans, and many types of
cells.
Electron Microscopes
To view small objects even more closely,
scientists use electron microscopes.
These microscopes use beams of electrons
instead of light to magnify objects.
Electrons are some of the particles, or
bits, that make up atoms. Electron
beams cannot travel far in air. Objects
must be put in a vacuum, or airless
space, before they can be seen with an
electron microscope.
Electron microscopes can magnify
objects up to 1 million times. This magnifying
power makes electron microscopes
very important scientific tools.
However, they cannot be used to study
living things because living things cannot
survive in a vacuum.
#More to explore
Atom • Cell • Lens
Midas
In ancient Greek and Roman mythology
Midas was a king known for his foolishness
and greed. Stories about him show
the importance of thinking before acting
or speaking.
In one story someone named Silenus
wandered into Midas’ gardens and fell
asleep. The palace servants found him
and took him to the king. Midas treated
Silenus with kindness and helped him
get home. Silenus was a friend of the
god Dionysus. To reward Midas for
helping his friend, Dionysus offered to
grant Midas a wish.Without thinking,
Midas asked that everything he touch
turn to gold. Dionysus made it so.
King Midas is a figure from ancient Greek
and Roman myths.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Midas 121
Midas was thrilled by his new wealth.
But he soon realized his mistake. When
he tried to eat, his food turned to gold.
He knew that he would soon go hungry.
Midas asked Dionysus to take the wish
back, which he did.
In another tale Midas judged a musical
contest between the minor god Pan and
the powerful god Apollo. Midas awarded
the prize to Pan. In revenge Apollo
