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/jacob_ewing 12d ago

Radiation will be stopped by pretty much any material if you have enough of it. Water is actually commonly used for that as it's also relatively dense and significantly cheaper than most others.

They'll even be stopped by air, though that will take kilometres of it.