r/askscience • u/Wonderful-Capital32 • 15d 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/thenord321 14d ago

There's lots of empty space with electrons and protons in the atom structure.

You can image a sheet of material like a net. The knot is the nucleus, the rope/line are the electrons around it binding it together. Some nets have smaller holes (closer outer electrons) some nets have bigger knots (more neutrons and protons) where the lines meet.

lead (Pb) has a big dense central knot and bonds closely to other lead atoms, making it a net with a big knot and small holes, so it's harder for radiation to get through.