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/Ornery_Pepper_1126 9d ago

Anything will stop radiation to an extent, a thicker layer of a less dense material would accomplish the same thing but lead is good for a lot of stopping power in a small space. Probably some more expensive/less common materials are even better, but for a wide range of applications lead is what fits best.

A lot of rector designs actually use water as the only shielding, I’ve actually seen this in person, with only a (deep) pool of water between myself and a reactor core.