In radiography, what effect does increasing the kilovoltage generally have on the resulting image?

Increasing the kilovoltage (kV) in radiography typically decreases the contrast of the resulting image. This is because higher kilovoltage produces a greater penetration ability of the x-rays, allowing more radiation to pass through the specimen being examined. As a result, the differences in attenuation between various materials become less pronounced, leading to a more uniform gray scale and lower contrast. This means that although the overall exposure to the film or digital sensor may be increased, the distinction between different densities within the image is reduced. Therefore, the choice indicating that increasing kilovoltage decreases contrast is aligned with the principles of radiographic imaging.