What happens if mAs and kVp are kept constant while mA is changed?

When mAs (milliamperes per second) and kVp (kilovolt peak) are kept constant while mA (milliamperes) is altered, the exposure time must change reciprocally to maintain the same overall mAs value. This relationship is based on the principle that mAs is the product of mA and exposure time, meaning any increase or decrease in mA necessitates a corresponding decrease or increase in exposure time to achieve the same total mAs.

For instance, if you increase the mA, the exposure time must decrease proportionally to keep the mAs constant, as increasing mA would result in a higher number of electrons available for the x-ray production per second. Conversely, if the mA is decreased, the exposure time would need to increase to allow for the same overall x-ray output.

Maintaining consistent mAs is crucial for controlling the amount of radiation exposure to the patient while ensuring optimal image quality. Therefore, the relationship between mA and exposure time is fundamental in radiographic imaging techniques.