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

The inverse square law states that the intensity of radiation, or the beam quantity, is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source of radiation. This means that as the distance from the x-ray source increases, the intensity or quantity of the x-ray beam decreases. Specifically, if the distance from the source is doubled, the beam quantity is reduced to a quarter of its original value. This phenomenon occurs because the x-rays spread out over a larger area as they travel further from the source, leading to a decrease in intensity at any given point. Understanding this principle is crucial in radiography for optimizing imaging techniques and ensuring patient safety by managing exposure levels effectively.