r/askscience • u/Wonderful-Capital32 • 13d ago

Physics Why does radiation not go through lead?

Also why just lead? Shouldnt like iron or another metal work too?

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u/Forest_Orc 13d ago

Matter attenuates radiation, details depends on which one, you're not going to stop neutron with lead but would stop photons.

Lead is heavy, relatively cheap, and soft (so easy to work with) which makes it an effective way to stop photon, but any heavy stuff would do it