A nuclear reactor's moderator slows neutrons, influencing reaction rates; which consequence directly follows from energy conservation during neutron moderation?

💡 Explanation

The moderator heats up because energy must be conserved during the inelastic scattering of neutrons; the neutron kinetic energy is transferred to the moderator as thermal energy. Therefore, moderator temperature rises, rather than the neutrons retaining all their initial kinetic energy or the fuel enrichment changing.

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