What is the effect on image quality when the intensity of radiation decreases?

When the intensity of radiation decreases, the effect on image quality typically results in a decrease in quality. This is due to several factors inherent in radiography. When radiation intensity is lower, the amount of exposure that the film or digital detector receives diminishes, which can lead to poorly defined images.

Reduced intensity may not effectively penetrate the material being imaged, resulting in lower contrast and detail. A weaker radiation signal might create images that are too light, causing important details to become obscured or entirely lost. This fundamentally impacts the diagnostic utility of the image, making it harder to identify flaws, imperfections, or other critical features within the material.

Hence, when assessing the options, the understanding of how radiation intensity directly correlates to image quality supports the conclusion that a decrease in intensity leads to a decline in image quality.