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