Final answer:
A mixture of attenuated and non-attenuated x-ray photons would decrease image contrast.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mixture of attenuated and non-attenuated x-ray photons would decrease image contrast.
Attenuation refers to the reduction in the intensity (or strength) of the x-ray beam as it passes through an object. Attenuated x-ray photons have undergone some level of absorption or scattering by the object, while non-attenuated x-ray photons have not.
When a mixture of attenuated and non-attenuated x-ray photons reaches the image receptor (such as a digital detector or film), the non-attenuated photons contribute to the overall image, leading to less contrast between different structures or tissues within the body.