In terms of shielding effectiveness, which material is typically less effective than depleted uranium?

Depleted uranium is known for its high density and effective radiation shielding capabilities, particularly against gamma rays and other forms of high-energy radiation. In comparison to depleted uranium, lead is also very effective in attenuating radiation, but it has a lower density than depleted uranium.

Shielding effectiveness depends significantly on the material's atomic number and density. While lead is a commonly used shielding material due to its availability and cost, depleted uranium performs better in terms of density, which provides greater mass per unit volume. This means that for the same thickness of material, depleted uranium will generally provide greater shielding than lead.

Gold, steel, and aluminum have lower densities compared to depleted uranium as well. Gold is denser than lead but is not used as a practical shielding material due to its cost and malleability. Steel, while stronger and better for structural support, does not possess the same degree of radiation attenuation as depleted uranium. Aluminum is the least effective among these materials and is not commonly used for radiation shielding because of its low density and atomic number.

Therefore, while lead is known for its effectiveness as a shielding material, it is typically less effective than depleted uranium, particularly in specialized applications requiring high shielding efficiency.