Physics of lead shielding question

Eric R Snow · 2006-02-22T01:02:29+00:00

I got to wondering today about how well lead stops radioactivity. Whena radioactive substance decays the rate of decay is given as a "HalfLife" value. It's my understanding that even though the time it takesfor half of the material to decay can be predicted the actual time ittakes for any individual atom cannot. Lead will attenuate theradioactivity. And thicker lead will stop more radioactivity. If areally thick lead sheet (say 1 mile thick) is used will someradioactivity still penetrate it completely? Is it all just a matterof degree? Are some forms of radioactivity completely stopped?Just curious.ERS

Feb 22, 2006 20 Replies

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Mark Jerde 20 years ago

You have a 50% chance of stopping a neutrino with a light-year of lead.

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-- Mark

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Physics of lead shielding question

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