What type of image is formed at the eyepiece of a microscope?

The image formed at the eyepiece of a microscope is classified as a virtual image. In optical instruments like microscopes, the eyepiece uses two lenses to magnify the image created by the objective lens. This process involves focusing light rays that appear to diverge from a location (the virtual image) behind the lens. Consequently, this virtual image cannot be projected onto a screen, as it is formed at a point from which light rays appear to emanate but do not actually converge.

Understanding this concept is crucial for interpreting how microscopes work. The objective lens forms a real, inverted image first, but when you look through the eyepiece, what you see is a virtual image that is further magnified and appears upright, relative to the real image seen at the objective. This distinction between real and virtual images illustrates how light interactions occur within the microscope's optics and why corrections to the eyepiece's configuration can influence the viewer’s perception of the specimen. The virtual image enables fine details of the specimen to be observed comfortably while retaining clarity and focus.