The purpose of a moderator in a nuclear reactor is
1. Moderators are substances that slow down the neutrons in nuclear reactors.
2. Moderators are made up of materials with light nuclei (like beryllium, graphite, etc.) that do not absorb the neutrons but slow down the speed of neutrons by a series of successive collisions.
3. Conservation of energy and momentum explains that a neutron can be slowed down much after collision with light nuclei.
4. A moderator material should have a small atomic mass so that it does not absorb the neutron as collides.