What does the inverse square law state about the intensity of radiation as distance increases?

The inverse square law describes the relationship between the intensity of radiation and the distance from the source of that radiation. According to this law, as the distance from the radiation source increases, the intensity of the radiation decreases in relation to the square of that distance. This means that if you double the distance from the source, the intensity of radiation decreases to one-fourth of what it was at the original distance. This principle is fundamental in various fields such as radiology and radiation safety, as it emphasizes the importance of maintaining a safe distance from sources of radiation to minimize exposure.

Understanding this law is crucial for proper radiation protection practices. For instance, when performing fluoroscopy or other procedures involving radiation, operators are trained to maximize the distance from the radiation source to decrease exposure, in line with the inverse square law.