A radiograph acquired at 60 kilovoltage peak (kVp) results in an underexposed image. What new kVp setting will double the receptor exposure?

To effectively increase the exposure of a radiograph, a common rule of thumb in radiography is that increasing the kilovoltage peak (kVp) by approximately 15% will double the receptor exposure. The principle behind this is that higher kVp settings enhance the penetration power of the x-rays, allowing more photons to reach the detector.

If the original kVp was at 60 and resulted in an underexposed image, to achieve a doubling of the receptor exposure, the kVp needs to be increased. A 15% increase from 60 kVp is calculated as follows:

1. Determine 15% of the original kVp: 60 kVp x 0.15 = 9 kVp.

2. Add this increase to the original kVp: 60 kVp + 9 kVp = 69 kVp.

So, setting the kVp to 69 will effectively double the exposure while also providing better image quality. Thus, opting for a new setting of 69 kVp is appropriate for correcting the underexposure.

The other options do not meet the criteria for adequately doubling the receptor exposure based on the 15% increase rule, which underscores why they do not serve as viable alternatives in this context