What makes lead a suitable material for shielding against gamma radiation?

Lead is considered an effective material for shielding against gamma radiation primarily due to its high density and significant atomic number. The high density of lead means that there are a large number of atoms packed into a given volume, which increases the chances of gamma photons interacting with the material. As gamma rays are highlypenetrating, they require dense materials to effectively attenuate their intensity.

The atomic number of lead is also crucial, as it relates to the probability of interactions between gamma photons and the electrons in the atoms of the shielding material. A higher atomic number indicates a greater ability to absorb or scatter gamma rays, which contributes to the overall shielding effectiveness.

Other properties such as lightweight, conductivity, and flexibility do not play a significant role in the attenuation of gamma radiation. Therefore, the combination of lead's density and atomic number makes it particularly effective for protecting against the penetrating power of gamma rays.