In short, yes. The resolution of a microscope (i.e. the ability to "visualise" separate objects) is dependent on the wavelength of the source used to examine the speciment. The wavelength of visible light (around 400-700 nm) is much greater than the wavelength of an electron (around 1.23 nm according to the de Broglie wavelength). So yes, an electron microscope has a much better resolution than a light microscope.
Aside from lens system classification, microscopes are classified based on their area of application and performance, their cost, their versatile nature or any other aspect. Microscopes can also be classified by what interacts with the object whether it is light or electrons.
Optical Microscopes: Optical microscope uses visible light (or UV light in the case of fluorescence microscopy) to sharply magnify the samples. The light rays refract with optical lenses. Dating back to the first microscopes that were invented, it is found that they belonged to this category. Optical microscopes can be further subdivided into several categories:
Compound Microscope: The compound microscope is built of two systems of lenses for greater magnification (an objective and an ocular: eye piece). The utmost useful magnification of a compound microscope is about 1000x.
Stereo Microscope (dissecting microscope): The stereo microscope is an optical microscope which magnifies up to about maximum 100x and provides a 3-dimensional view of the specimen. Stereo microscopes are highly useful for observing opaque objects.
Confocal Laser scanning microscope: Unlike compound and stereo microscopes, Confocal Laser scanning microscopes are reserved for research organizations. Such microscopes are able to scan a sample also in depth. A computer can then assemble the data to create a 3D image.
Electron Microscopes
Electron microscopes are the most advanced microscopes used in modern science. The electron microscopes essentially function on the principle of a beam of electrons that strikes any objects that comes to its path to magnify it. Electron microscopes are designed specifically for studying cells and small particles of matter, as wells as large objects.
Scanning Electron Microscope
Scanning Electron Microscope is characterized as a microscope that has lower magnifying power but can provide 3 dimensional viewing of objects. The Scanning Electron Microscope captures the image of the object in black and white after being stained with gold and palladium.
Reflection Electron Microscope
Reflection electron microscopes are also designed on the principle of electron beams but they are characteristically different from transmission and scanning electron microscopes being that it is built to detect electrons that have been scattered elastically.
X-ray Microscope: An X-ray microscope uses a beam of x-rays to create an unparalleled high resolution 3D image. Due to the small wavelength, the image resolution is higher as compared to optical microscopes. The greatest useful magnification is therefore also higher and it lies between the optical microscopes and electron microscopes. X-ray microscope holds significant importance in science and research and has got one special advantage over electron microscopes is. It allows observing the structure of the living cells. It is adept at slicing together thousands of images to generate a single 3D X-ray image.
Scanning Helium Ion Microscope (SHIM or HeIM): Scanning Helium Ion Microscope is a new imaging technology which uses a beam of Helium ions beams to generate an image. This technology has several advantages over the traditional electron microscopes; one advantage lies in the fact that the sample is left mostly intact (due to the low energy requirements) and that it provides a high resolution. The first commercial systems were released in 2007.
Scanning acoustic microscope (SAM): Scanning acoustic microscope uses focused sound waves to generate an image. An acoustic microscope has a wide range of applications in materials science to detect small cracks or tensions in materials. The scanning acoustic microscope is a powerful tool which can also be used in biology to study the physical properties of the biological structure and help uncover tensions, stress and elasticity inside the biological structure.
Electron Microscopes: Modern electron microscope uses accelerated electrons and can magnify up to 2 million times due to the very small wavelength of high energy electrons. The high energy electrons as a source of illumination are quite tough on the sample being observed. Because of the much shorter wavelength, the electron microscope has a higher resolving power than a light microscope. To reveal the structure of objects, it may initially acquire a long time to completely dehydrate and prepare the specimen. A sleek layer of a metal could be on the other hand used to coat some of the biological specimens for easy observation.
Neutron Microscope: Still under an experimental stage, Neutron microscope generates a high resolution image and may offer better contrast than other forms of microscopy. The new technology would use neutrons instead of beams of light or electrons to generate high resolution images.
Scanning Probe Microscopes: Scanning Probe Microscope helps visualize individual atoms. The image of the atom is computer-generated, however. It provides the researchers an imaging tool for the future where a small tip measures the surface structure of the sample. These specialized microscopes provide high image magnification to observe three dimensional specimens. If an atom projects out of the surface, then a higher electrical current flows through the tip. The amount of current that flows is proportional to the height of the structure. A computer then assembles the position data of the tip. An enhanced 3D image is generated.
Conclusion: Microscopes can be classified based on the physical principle that is used to generate an image. Different microscopes function differently to visualize different physical characteristics of the sample (eg. elasticity can be visualized with acoustic microscopes). Image contrast, resolution (which determines magnification) and destructiveness of the sample are other pertinent parameters.
In short, yes. The resolution of a microscope (i.e. the ability to "visualise" separate objects) is dependent on the wavelength of the source used to examine the speciment. The wavelength of visible light (around 400-700 nm) is much greater than the wavelength of an electron (around 1.23 nm according to the de Broglie wavelength). So yes, an electron microscope has a much better resolution than a light microscope.
Yes. Because of its shorter wavelength, electron microscopy has a better resolution than a light microscope. But, it is not compatible with live cell imaging.
It is certainly true that an electron microscope has a better resolution than a light microscope. This is a justification of why an electron microscope is used for resolving extremely smaller objects. The best light microscope only has a resolution of 200 nanometers. On the contrary, a transmission electron microscope has a resolution of 0.5 nanometers, whilst a scanning electron microscope has a resolution of 7 nanometers.
Light microscope shows an overview of the image while the E/M shows a different view for the image at higher magnification other than light microscope.
Actually it is hard to compare both as they have 2 different functions.
Resolution ist depending on the detecting wavelength. The formula is rho=0,61*lambda/NA where rho is the radius of the smallest feature detectable, lambda the wavelength and NA the systems aperture - thus the smaller the wavelength, the higher the resolution. Electrons have a very small "wavelength", so resolution majorly depends on the smallest step-size the scanning beam does over the sample.
The biggest drawback is - in my opinion - that it's hardly possible to image living tissiues/cells etc..