Distortion that occurs when the x-ray beam is angled against the long axis of a part is:

Distortion that occurs when the x-ray beam is angled against the long axis of a part is:

• A. Elongation
• B. Magnification
• C. Minification
• D. Foreshortening

Answer: (D)

Foreshortening occurs when the x-ray beam strikes the part at an angle to its long axis, causing the projection of that axis on the image plane to appear shorter than its true length. Imagine the rod-like part being tilted toward or away from the beam; the part’s length is compressed in the image, so it looks shorter. If the beam were aligned with the long axis, or the part were oriented so its length projects along the image plane, you’d not see this shortening. Magnification, by contrast, is about the overall size increase due to the part being farther from the film, not about shortening along a dimension, and minification isn’t the term used for this type of distortion.

Foreshortening occurs when the x-ray beam strikes the part at an angle to its long axis, causing the projection of that axis on the image plane to appear shorter than its true length. Imagine the rod-like part being tilted toward or away from the beam; the part’s length is compressed in the image, so it looks shorter. If the beam were aligned with the long axis, or the part were oriented so its length projects along the image plane, you’d not see this shortening. Magnification, by contrast, is about the overall size increase due to the part being farther from the film, not about shortening along a dimension, and minification isn’t the term used for this type of distortion.