Why are laboratory workers who handle gamma-emitting radioactive sources required to wear protective aprons lined with lead?
Lead absorbs the highly penetrating gamma radiation, reducing the dose received by the worker.
Lead increases the half-life of the radioactive source, making it decay slower.
Lead decreases the half-life of the radioactive source, making it decay faster.
Lead repels the gamma radiation, deflecting it away from the worker.
484 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics 5.2 Radioactivity, covering 5.2.1 Background radiation and measuring count rate, 5.2.2a Alpha, beta and gamma emission, 5.2.2b Deflection and ionising effects of nuclear radiation, 5.2.3a Radioactive decay, 5.2.3b Effects of decay on the nucleus and decay equations, 5.2.4a Half-life, 5.2.4b Choosing isotopes for applications, and 5.2.5 Effects of ionising radiation and safety precautions. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.