Certified Ophthalmic Assistant Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive Preparation Guide

Viruses are indeed significantly smaller than the typical wavelengths of visible light, which makes them undetectable by light microscopes, including compound microscopes. An electron microscope is necessary because it uses a beam of electrons instead of light to examine specimens at much higher resolutions, allowing for the visualization of structures, such as viruses, that measure only nanometers in size.

An electron microscope can achieve the necessary magnification and resolution to reveal fine details of viral morphology, such as their shape and surface structures. This is crucial in virology studies for understanding how viruses interact with host cells and for developing vaccines and treatments. Therefore, the electron microscope is the correct choice for observing viruses.