Increasing the distance from the x-ray source results in which of the following?

Increasing the distance from the x-ray source leads to a decrease in beam intensity. This phenomenon is explained by the Inverse Square Law, which states that the intensity of radiation is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source of the radiation.

As the distance doubles, the intensity of the x-ray beam decreases to one-fourth of its original value. This reduction occurs because the x-rays spread out over a larger area as they travel further from the source, resulting in a lower concentration of x-rays per unit area. Consequently, the intensity, or the amount of radiation that reaches a certain point, diminishes with increased distance.

It's important to remember that while the energy of the x-ray photons themselves does not change with distance (as they are characteristic of the x-ray production process), the intensity, which is a measure of how many photons are arriving at a specific point, is what is significantly affected. Thus, increasing the distance results in decreased beam intensity, which is why this is the correct answer.