Final answer:
The statement in question is false; as the kVp increases, the beam's ability to penetrate material actually increases due to higher energy photons being generated.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'As kVp increases, penetration decreases' is false. In the context of X-ray imaging, as the peak kilovoltage (kVp) increases, the quality of the beam improves, meaning the beam's ability to penetrate material increases. This is because higher energy photons, which result from higher kVp settings, can penetrate denser material more effectively.
When an X-ray tube operates at a higher kVp, it generates photons with more energy. These high-energy photons are capable of penetrating through denser materials, which makes them effective for imaging dense physiological structures like bones. Thus, higher kVp settings would be used for body parts with greater density or for patients with larger body habitus to achieve adequate penetration.