What is resolving power? what effects it?

Resolving power is the smallest separation at which two separate objects can be distinguished (resolved). Resolution is the ability to distinguish between two points on an image i.e. the amount of detail. The resolving power of a microscope is affected by the wavelength of light (400 - 600nm for visible light. To improve resolving power, a shorter wavelength of light is needed. This is why sometimes microscopes are fitted with blue filters. Blue light has the shortest wavelength of visible light.