How Can Quarks Have Mass Without Physical Extensions?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the nature of quarks, specifically addressing how they can possess mass without having physical extensions or volume. Participants explore the implications of quarks being considered point particles and the philosophical aspects of reality in relation to subatomic particles.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how quarks can have mass without physical extensions, suggesting a need for clarification on this concept.
  • Another participant explains that subatomic particles, including quarks, do not have clearly defined edges or "size" in the traditional sense, emphasizing their wavelike properties.
  • A participant expresses amusement and confusion over the idea that quarks and electrons are point particles with no volume, highlighting the perplexity of this notion.
  • In response, another participant argues against the idea of assigning volume to quarks, stating that such a concept may be invalid at the subatomic scale and that physics must adhere to measurable properties.
  • A later reply references a previous discussion about the size of photons, suggesting that similar principles apply to quarks.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the concept of size and volume in relation to quarks, with no consensus reached on how to reconcile the idea of mass with the notion of point particles.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes limitations regarding definitions of size and volume at the subatomic level, as well as the challenges of measurement in this context.

Jim Beam
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the way i understand quarks is that they have mass, yet no physical extensions of any kind. how is this possible?
 
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Could you expound on that a bit...please.
 
Subatomic particles are not like billiard balls. All particles display wavelike properties, and do not have crisply defined edges like billiard balls. They do not really have a "size" in the normal sense of the word. You can specify that a quark in a specific state is within a certain volume 99% of the time, and use that volume as a sort of "statistical size," but microscopic particles simply do not have the macroscopic characteristic of "size."

- Warren
 
another of the more intriguing aspects of the illusion we call reality. electrons and quarks, the fundamental building blocks of all matter, are point particles and have no volume. don't you find that profoundly amusing and stupefying at the same time?
 
jnorman said:
another of the more intriguing aspects of the illusion we call reality. electrons and quarks, the fundamental building blocks of all matter, are point particles and have no volume. don't you find that profoundly amusing and stupefying at the same time?

No, what is more "stupefying" is to be able to say they have a volume when we have no ability to determine such a thing. So you would rather we lie?

By saying something is a "point" particle implies that either (i) the physical real-space volume they occupy is not a significant property of that particle that influences its property; (ii) it is miniscule enough that we can't measure them; and (iii) the concept of "volume" may be invalid when things get to THAT scale.

These are the "reality" and restrictions that physics are faced with. Rather than make things up just to satisfy someone's "taste" and preference on what reality should be, we abide by what we can, or cannot, measure.

Zz.
 
I answered a question about the size of a photon about a week ago. What I said then is true for quarks too, so I recommend that you read this.
 

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