Which of the following can be easily adjusted by a technician to increase radiographic exposure without impacting contrast?

Increasing milliamperage is the correct choice for adjusting radiographic exposure without significantly impacting contrast. Milliamperage (mA) controls the quantity of x-ray photons produced during an exposure. When the mA is increased, the exposure to the radiographic film or detector is enhanced, resulting in a darker image (increased density), which is crucial for ensuring that the anatomy of interest is well visualized.

One of the key factors about increasing mA is that it does not change the energy or quality of the x-rays; rather, it simply increases the number of x-ray photons. This means that the inherent contrast of the image—determined by the kVp (kilovoltage peak), the inherent properties of the subject being imaged, and the film or digital detector characteristics—remains largely unaffected. Therefore, radiographic exposure can be effectively managed by adjusting milliamperage, making it a preferable choice for technicians who want to improve the signal without altering image contrast.

In contrast, other options would impact the exposure and possibly alter the contrast of the image. For instance, decreasing exposure time might lead to underexposure and loss of detail, while increasing kilovoltage affects both the quantity and energy of the x-rays, which