As the distance from the x-ray source increases, what happens to the patient dose?

As the distance from the x-ray source increases, the patient dose decreases due to the inverse square law, which states that the intensity of radiation is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source. This means that as you move further away from the source, the radiation exposure decreases significantly.

For instance, if the distance from the x-ray source doubles, the intensity of the x-ray beam reduces to one-fourth due to the square relationship. Therefore, the amount of radiation reaching the patient and consequently the dose they receive diminishes. This principle is crucial for minimizing radiation exposure in radiographic procedures, emphasizing the importance of maintaining adequate distance during imaging to protect patient safety while still obtaining high-quality images.

Factors such as milliamperage are more related to the quantity of radiation produced at a constant distance but do not influence how the dose changes with distance. Thus, the answer reflects an important aspect of radiographic practice in relation to radiation safety.