In a nuclear reactor, a neutron of high speed `(~~10^(7)ms^(-1))` must be slowed down to `10^(3)ms^(-1)` so that it can have a high probality of interacting with isotipe `_92U^(235)` and causing it to fission. Show that a neutron can lose most of its K.E. in an elastic collision with a light nuclei like deuterium or carbon which has a mass of only a fewe times the neutron mass. The material making up the light nuclei usually heavy water `(D_(2)O)` or graphite is called modertaor.

Explanation

We have studied that when two bodies of same mass undergo an elastic collision, their velocities are interchanges after collision. Water and heavy water are hydrogenic materials containing protons having approximately the same mass as that of a neutron. When fast moving neutrons collide with protons, the neutrons come to rest and protons move with the velocity of neutrons.