According to the inverse square law, what happens to the beam quantity as the distance from the x-ray source increases?

The inverse square law states that the intensity of radiation or the beam quantity decreases with the square of the distance from the source. This means that as you increase the distance from the x-ray source, the quantity of the beam reaching a particular area diminishes significantly. Specifically, if the distance from the source is doubled, the intensity is reduced to one-fourth of its original value. This relationship is essential in radiography because it influences how much radiation a patient or imaging receptor receives based on their distance from the x-ray tube.

Options indicating an increase or stability of beam quantity do not align with the principle outlined in the inverse square law. Furthermore, the idea of the beam quantity becoming unpredictable contradicts the established relationship that clearly defines how distances directly correlate to the intensity of the x-ray beam. Thus, the correct choice highlights the direct application of this fundamental principle in understanding radiation behavior.