eli5: Why is lead used as a radioactive shielding?
In: Other
So “radiation” is just particles. Alpha, beta, gamma particles, depending on the kind of radiation. The likelihood of radiation hurting you depends on how clear a path exists between the radioactive “thing” and you. Particles are small. Traveling through things like air, there’s a good chance radioactive particles won’t hit anything between the thing and you. The more “stuff” there is between you and it the more chance those radioactive particles smack into something and don’t reach you.
Lead is *dense*. It’s very heavy. And particularly cheap. it makes a good shield because it’s made of a lot of “stuff” thus increasing the odds it impacts something between the thing and you.
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