Which factor could lead to the need for a higher intensity exposure during radiography?

The need for a higher intensity exposure during radiography is primarily influenced by the thickness of the body part being imaged. When body thickness increases, it results in greater attenuation of the X-ray beam as it passes through the tissues. Thicker body parts absorb more of the X-rays due to the increased density and volume the beam must penetrate. Consequently, to achieve adequate image contrast and visualization of structures, a radiographer must increase the exposure intensity, which can be achieved by either raising the milliampere-seconds (mAs), increasing the kilovoltage (kV), or both. This adjustment compensates for the increased absorption and ensures that enough X-ray photons reach the image receptor to produce a diagnostically useful image.