Say a 1 MeV gamma ray is shielded by 1 cm (halving thickness) of lead. Now, what does "havling the intensity" mean ? Like will the new gamma ray exit with energy of 0.5 MeV ? and by that we can say that the material absorbed 0.5 MeV ? or it will be halved in another way ?
Sorry if the question seem too amateur, I am just not good at particle physics.