Chapter 4 - Atomic Structure - 4.2 Structure of the Nuclear Atom - Chemistry & You: Technology - Take It Further - Page 111: 2

SEM stands for Scanning Electron Microscope. A SEM works by passing an electron beam over the surface of the object being examined. SEMs only produce images of the surface of an object. TEM, by comparison, stands for Transmission Electron Microscope. TEMs work by passing an electron beam through an object. As a result, TEMs produce images of what is inside an object.

SEM stands for Scanning Electron Microscope. A SEM works by passing an electron beam over the surface of the object being examined. SEMs only produce images of the surface of an object. TEM, by comparison, stands for Transmission Electron Microscope. TEMs work by passing an electron beam through an object. As a result, TEMs produce images of what is inside an object.