What happens to the exposure level when the shutter setting is advanced to a smaller fraction?

When the shutter setting is advanced to a smaller fraction, such as changing from 1/100 to 1/200 of a second, the amount of time that the shutter is open is reduced, resulting in less light hitting the sensor or film. This clearly indicates that exposure is reduced. In photographic terms, a smaller fraction means the shutter speed is faster, allowing less light to reach the imaging sensor.

Thus, if the shutter speed increases (i.e., you move to a smaller fraction), this effectively halves the exposure time. Consequently, this change leads to a decrease in the exposure level. This principle is fundamental in photography, where the relationship between shutter speed and exposure is crucial for achieving the desired image quality and effects.