Final answer:
The angle of the target in an x-ray tube impacts the sharpness of the x-ray images by influencing image contrast. Better contrast and sharper images are obtained with low-energy x-rays due to greater attenuation and less scattering. Injecting substances like barium or iodine can enhance contrast further by highlighting specific body structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The target in the x-ray tube is angled to affect the sharpness of the image. The angle of the target in an X-ray tube is an essential aspect to consider because it influences the quality and clarity of the images produced. Lower-energy x rays provide better image contrast, which equates to sharper images, as they suffer from greater attenuation when penetrating through materials but have less scattering compared to higher-energy x-rays. These effects are influenced by the material's density and thickness, where denser and thicker materials absorb more low-energy x-rays, leading to clearer images. To enhance contrast further, substances such as barium or iodine, which have large atomic numbers, can be injected into specific parts of the body. This allows for a more precise visualization of structures, such as the gastrointestinal tract or abdomen, because these substances create a distinct contrast with the surrounding tissue when exposed to x-rays.