What effect does adding filtration have on the overall energy of the X-ray beam?

Adding filtration to an X-ray beam causes an increase in the overall energy of the beam. This occurs because filtration selectively absorbs lower-energy (soft) X-rays, which have less penetrating ability and are not as useful for imaging. By removing these lower-energy photons, the average energy of the remaining X-ray beam is increased, since the higher-energy (harder) photons are left intact.

The process enhances the quality of the X-ray beam, improving contrast and definition in the images produced while minimizing patient exposure to unnecessary radiation. In summary, the correct choice reflects how filtration improves the penetrating power of the beam by eliminating less energetic photons.