What does increasing the distance between the x-ray source and the patient accomplish?

Increasing the distance between the x-ray source and the patient primarily serves to decrease the patient's radiation dose. This effect is grounded in the inverse square law, which states that the intensity of radiation is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source. As distance from the radiation source increases, the amount of radiation that reaches the patient diminishes significantly.

When the x-ray source is farther away, the rays spread out over a larger area, resulting in a lower dose of radiation delivered to any particular point on the patient's body. This practice is essential in minimizing exposure during imaging procedures, thus enhancing patient safety.

While the other options may touch on relevant aspects of x-ray procedures, they do not directly correlate with the essential benefit of increased distance in terms of reducing radiation exposure. For example, increasing distance might influence image quality to some extent due to the distribution of rays, but that is not its primary purpose. Moreover, increased distance does not necessarily correlate with longer exposure times; in fact, it might require adjustments to maintain proper image quality.