From Wikipedia:
"The total rest masses of the fission products (Mp) from a single reaction is less than the mass of the original fuel nucleus (M). The excess mass Δm = M – Mp is the invariant mass of the energy that is released as photons (gamma rays) and kinetic energy of the fission fragments, according to the mass-energy equivalence formula E = mc²."
So the energy released by the reaction would be Δmc², right?
It says "the total rest masses." This is talking about the rest mass, which is different than the relativistic mass. I believe that the relativistic mass is the one that actually matters.
To your question, I agree that the energy released would be Δmc², but there would be no conversion between mass and energy in the process. The total mass and the total kinetic energy would remain the same after the fission as they were before it.
Ah, so once the byproducts are again at rest with 0 kinetic energy, total mass of the system will be equal to total mass of the system before?
So the energy of the explosion comes purely from the atoms being at a lower energy state than they were as uranium? I suppose it makes sense if it takes a huge outlay of energy to form them, which stars could certainly source.
So the energy released by the reaction would be Δmc², right?