Final answer:
To achieve maximum differential absorption of tissues and a high-quality fluoroscopic image, one should select peak kilovolts. This adjustment allows x-ray photons to penetrate materials with varying densities effectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
By selecting peak kilovolts one can achieve maximum differential absorption of the tissues in order to produce a high-quality fluoroscopic image. The amount of energy an x-ray photon has determines how much material it can penetrate. Operating an x-ray tube at higher kilovolts increases the energy of the photons, allowing them to penetrate denser materials effectively.
For example, an x-ray tube might be operated at 50.0 kV for a chest x-ray or at 100 kV for imaging a broken leg in a cast. Understanding that electric potential energy is converted to kinetic energy and then to photon energy helps us appreciate the importance of adjusting the kilovolts to manipulate x-ray energy for optimal imaging.