International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) Physics Practice Exam

Gamma rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation with high energy and penetrating power. They can pass through many materials, making it challenging to contain them effectively. The best way to contain gamma rays is to use dense materials that can absorb or shield against them.

Using a lead-lined box is effective because lead is a dense material, which provides substantial attenuation of gamma rays. The high atomic number of lead allows for effective interaction with gamma photons, reducing the intensity of radiation that can escape. This makes lead a common choice for shielding against gamma radiation in various applications, including medical settings and nuclear facilities.

Other methods listed, such as storing in a glass container or wrapping the source in aluminum foil, do not provide adequate protection against gamma rays because these materials are not dense enough. Glass and aluminum can only attenuate lower-energy radiation effectively and would allow significant gamma radiation to pass through. Exposure to sunlight is irrelevant to gamma radiation as sunlight does not provide any shielding, and gamma rays are not affected by light in that manner.