What effect does moving the x-ray tube closer to the table have on film exposure?

Moving the x-ray tube closer to the table increases the intensity of the x-ray beam that reaches the film or detector. This phenomenon is explained by the inverse square law, which states that the intensity of radiation is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source. As the distance decreases, the amount of x-ray photons that hit the film increases, resulting in a higher exposure.

When the film receives more radiation than it is designed for, it will capture a denser image, which translates to a darker appearance. Thus, the film will come out too dark. This highlights the necessity of knowing the proper distance settings when conducting radiographic procedures to ensure optimal image quality without overexposure.