How many lenses are typically found in a microscope?

In a typical compound microscope, there are usually two lenses that play a crucial role in magnifying the specimen being observed: the objective lens and the eyepiece (or ocular) lens. The objective lens, located near the specimen, focuses light from the object, while the eyepiece lens allows the viewer to see the magnified image formed by the objective lens.

Having these two lenses allows for a much higher total magnification than if only one lens were used. The combination of these lenses is what enables the microscope to provide a detailed view of small objects, which is essential in biological studies for observing cells and microorganisms. The other options suggest fewer or greater numbers of lenses, which do not align with the standard structure of most microscopes used in a typical educational setting.