ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Launch numerical aperture

Okay, let's say you want to look at something really small, like a tiny bug or bacteria, but you can't see it with your eyes because it's too small. So you use a special microscope. The microscope has a lens that helps you see the thing that's too small. The lens is like a magnifying glass that makes things appear bigger.

Now, imagine the lens is like a tube that goes from the thing you want to see to your eye. The size of the tube is important because it determines how much light can pass through it. A bigger tube lets more light through, and a smaller tube lets less light through. So if you want to see something really clearly, you need a lens with a big tube.

The numerical aperture is a way to measure how big the tube of the lens is. It's like a score that tells you how much light the lens can gather and how clear the image will be. A higher numerical aperture means the lens can gather more light and create a clearer image of the thing you want to see.

So, the higher the numerical aperture of the lens, the clearer the image you'll see of the tiny bug or bacteria. It's like having a bigger straw to drink a milkshake – it makes it easier to get all the milkshake in one go. A higher numerical aperture makes it easier for the light to pass through the lens and create a clear image.