If the size of the x-ray field is enlarged, what occurs?

When the size of the x-ray field is enlarged, there are significant implications for image quality and radiation dose. Enlarging the x-ray field does not improve image quality; rather, it can lead to a decrease in sharpness and increase the amount of scatter radiation. Increased scatter radiation can result in a blurred image and reduced contrast.

Furthermore, as the field size increases, the intensity of the x-rays that reach the detector also decreases due to the scattering effects and the distribution of radiation over a larger area. Consequently, the image is more likely to appear darker, not brighter.

Lastly, it's important to consider that enlarging the field increases the amount of irradiated tissue, which can expose a larger volume of the patient to radiation without a corresponding benefit in the diagnostic quality of the image. Therefore, none of the provided options accurately capture the effects of enlarging the x-ray field.