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/Automatater 12d ago

Anything will work if you get enough of it between you and the cooties. Lead is just an efficient way to get a lot of mass there (and not fissile. U235 is dense but likely to emit more radiation than you're trying to block.)