Outline
To summarize, so far we have defined the elementary particles of EthnoPhysics by objectifying some common sensations as seeds. Then we considered pairs of seeds and called them quarks. We talked about how quarks are counted and conserved. And we characterized them by their internal energy and temperature.
Over the next few articles EthnoPhysics makes models of observable particles from collections of these quarks. Everything from photons, nuclei and atoms, to clocks and even reference-frames are introduced as compound quarks. We focus on models that are minimalist, intuitive and specifically designed for ease of use: Ergonomic quark models.
On this page we look at the size and shape of a compound quark. This leads to a discussion of radii, metrics and more generally to quark-space as a venue for the presentation and analysis of quark models. The spatial orientation is defined. And related spatial concepts like angular momentum and charge symmetry are considered.
The discussion of shape ultimately leads to a definition of the work required to assemble a compound quark. But before all that, we start with a more collective notion of size, the enthalpy.
Enthalpy
Enthalpy represents the net difference in size between sensations felt on the left side versus the right side. The comparison may be considered over various classes of sensation. To be more specific, let a quark model of particle P be characterized by its quark coefficients and their associated internal energies
. Recall that
is an index that notes quark-type. The enthalpy of P is defined as
We also make use of a partial sum over just the chemical quarks that is written as
Enthalpy is conserved when compound quarks are formed or decomposed because it is defined by sums over quarks, and quarks are conserved.
The assumption of conjugate symmetry requires that the internal energy of ordinary-quarks and anti-quarks are the same as each other. Also, the net number of quarks , in particle
and its anti-particle
, are related by
So the enthalpy for a quark model of a particle and its anti-particle are related as
The internal energy is defined from the specific energy
of a particle. This specific energy represents the size of a perception. And quarks are objectified from thermal, visual, somatic and taste sensations. So a sensory interpretation of enthalpy is an awareness of size for all these kinds of sensations, net left-side from right.
Next we use this notion of size to define the radius of a composite quark.

Radii
Radii and radius vectors are used to express spatial concepts like extension and containment. For example, consider a quark model of particle P that is characterized by some repetitive chain of events
where each orbital cycle is a bundle of quarks
that are described by their quark coefficients and internal energies
Recall that
notes the enthalpy of the chemical quarks in P. And let a constant
have a positive value, with units of a force. These quantities are used to describe the shape and extent of P as follows. The chemical radius is
The magnetic radius of P is
the electric radius is defined by
and the polar radius of P is given as
An ordered set of these radii defines the radius vector for a quark model of P as
The three components of are conserved because they are defined from sums of quark coefficients, and quarks are conserved. So if some generic particles
,
and
interact like
then by the associative properties of addition, radii are related as
Also and
. So particles and anti-particles have symmetrically opposed radius vectors
Going forward, we use these radius-vectors to develop a description for the shape of a compound quark. As a starting example; if P has the same radii every cycle, then we call it a rigid particle.
Some particles are not very solid or exactly located. Then an analysis of shape might not provide a useful description. So instead we may use the following radii to describe their containment or range. The inner radius is defined as
And the outer radius of P is
We say that a particle is free when and
That is, when the inner radius is small and the outer radius is big. But if
then we say that it is in the core of the model, not free.
Here is a sensory explanation of the radius vector. In these formulae means that contributions from sensations on the right side are cancelled by sensations felt on the left. The radius vector depends on their net size. Coefficients of baryonic quarks do not appear in these definitions, only dynamic quarks. So the radius vector does not depend on thermal sensation, only somatic and visual sensations.
Also the null value for energy is referred to down-quarks which are objectified from black sensations. So overall, the radius vector is interpreted as a description of size for visual sensations, relative to black sensations, net right from left.

Quark Space
EthnoPhysics begins with the premise that we can understand ordinary space by describing sensation. And, we also need some room to build quark models. So let’s start by defining an algebraic vector space made from the radius vectors for some finite collection of particles
. This mathematical construction is generically written as
Radius vectors are defined by describing sense perceptions, so ultimately is defined by sensation too. We say
is three-dimensional because the three components of a radius vector represent three distinct classes of sensation which may change independently of each other.
These three components are not the Cartesian coordinates that we usually use in geometry because instead of being associated with lengths, they are defined by counting quarks. Moreover, this space is explicitly constructed to keep track of quarks, so is called a quark space.
The following basis vectors are used to make general descriptions; the magnetic axis is defined by the electric axis from
and the polar axis by
. Then, any radius vector in
can be expressed in terms of its components as
The norm of a radius vector in quark space is given by
This function compresses all three components of a radius vector into a single quantity that depends on six constant numbers noted by These constants are known collectively as the terrestrial metric and they are discussed in detail later.
Particles and anti-particles have symmetrically opposed radius vectors, . So their norms are the same as each other
Quark space is grainy because quark coefficients are always integers. And is squashed in a funny way because metric components are not Euclidean. These details are handled mathematically, and in the following articles we make idealized quark models using conventional graphics. But first we say a bit more about metrics and norms.

Metrics
EthnoPhysics begins with the premise that we can understand ordinary space by describing sensation. This is done by objectifying reference sensations as quarks and then considering spaces as collections of quarks. Different kinds of space are defined from different distributions of quark types. And empty space is not defined. So overall, our understanding of a space is based on the particles that are in the space.
Specifically, we assess the shape or radii of these particles. Traditionally, a radius is quantified by making a measurement of length. But a full discussion of length requires some ideas that are initially quite vague.
So to begin, we evaluate the shape of a quark model by counting its quarks. Then we define , a radius vector, from quark inventories. Using this vector, an algebraic vector space called
, can be defined for some finite collection of particles
Such a mathematical construction is generically written as
is characterized using a statistical account of commonalities and variation in the shape of quark models for these particles. Averages and standard deviations are given by
where notes different components of the radius vector
Spaces are also described by correlations between these components using the coefficients
where . Correlation coefficients may be combined to define some ratios, which are then used to systematically characterize
. For the important special case where
is the Earth, we have the terrestrial metric.
The Terrestrial Metric
Recall that touching the Earth is a reference sensation for EthnoPhysics. So we presume that the Earth is implicitly part of every description. And since this celestial body is so big, the law of large numbers implies that correlation coefficients will have specific values that do not vary on geological time scales. So we can define five unique constants by
The Terrestrial Metric | ||
---|---|---|
centripetal component | ![]() | 1 |
electric component | ![]() | -0.0152286648 |
magnetic component | ![]() | +0.7453740340 |
electromagnetic component | ![]() | -0.9292374609 |
electroweak component | ![]() | +1.5428187522 |
magnetoweak component | ![]() | -1.2742065050 |
and use them to determine the norm of a radius vector. Note that by this definition is exactly one, and
A set of numbers used to calculate a norm is called a metric, so we call this collection the terrestrial metric. Using it compresses a radius vector into a single quantity that depends on attributes of the Earth.
The labels given to components of the terrestrial metric are arbitrary, but the names listed in the table have been chosen for their mnemonic value. They will smoothly fit into our traditional ways of discussing physics and be easy to remember.
The Euclidean Metric | |
---|---|
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We also consider the possibility that may be a collection of quark models where membership in the set is restricted to certain shapes or other attributes. Then a statistical analysis of shape could yield a different metric.
For example, in our classrooms and laboratories we usually assume that space is filled with room-temperature atoms, not just any composite quark. An extended analysis of this sort of terrestrial space is detailed later. But the overall result is easily summarized as the Euclidean Metric shown in the accompanying table.
The Norm
Consider an ordered-set of three numbers ,
and
that constitute an algebraic vector written as
. These numbers can be compressed into a single number called the norm of
which is written as
.
Evaluating the norm depends on several more numbers that are called components of a metric. The numerical values of these metric components are established by the context of a calculation, they are often implicit.
A complete mathematical discussion of metrics and norms can be quite extended, so for EthnoPhysics we focus on the specific case where and
are the three radii used to describe the shape of a compound quark. These radii are determined by counting quarks, so to assess their norm we use components of the terrestrial metric, written as
. First we define a directed surface area by
In general, radii may be positive or negative, so may be positive or negative too. If
we say that the surface of P is outside facing. And if
, then the surface is facing inside. The norm of
is defined as
Recall that particles and anti-particles have opposing radius vectors where . And all radial components appear as paired factors in the expression for
. So both particles have the same surface area and norm. We write
Here is similar way to distill two radius vectors into a single number. Let us call the vectors and
. Then the inner product is defined by
We say that and
are orthogonal if
.

Spatial Orientation
The following quantities establish the orientation of a particle in quark space. They are also used to describe displacements in ordinary Euclidean space.
Magnetic Polarity
Let a quark model for some particle P be characterized by and
the coefficients of its muonic seeds. These quantities are used to define another number
called the magnetic polarity of P as
If then northern seeds are more numerous than southern seeds and we say that P is oriented to the north. If P is part of a magnet, we might even call it a north pole. If southern seeds predominate then we say that P is directed to the south, or perhaps aligned in a southerly direction. And if
then we say that P is not magnetically polarized.
Sensory interpretation: Muonic seeds are objectified from red and green sensations. So is a binary description of whether a complicated visual sensation is more reddish or greenish. If
then P is not remarkably red or green.
Electric Polarity
Let a quark model of P also be characterized by and
the coefficients of its electronic seeds. These numbers are used to define another quantity
called the electric polarity of P as
If then positive seeds are more numerous than negative seeds and we say that P is positive too. If P is part of a battery, we might even call it a positive electrode. If negative seeds predominate then we may say that P is oriented or aligned in a negative direction. If
then P is not electrically polarized. And, if both of
and
are zero, then we say that P is centered on the electric and magnetic axes.
Sensory interpretation: Electronic seeds are objectified from yellow and blue sensations. So is a binary description of whether a complex visual sensation is more yellowish or bluish. If P is not clearly yellowish or bluish, then
. And if both of
and
are zero, then P is a colorless or achromatic sensation.
Helicity
Let a quark model of P be characterized by and
the coefficients of its rotating seeds. These numbers are used to define
as the helicity of P
Sensory interpretation: Rotating seeds are objectified from achromatic visual sensations. So for white sensations outnumber black sensations. Collectively they are bright. For
black sensations are more numerous than white sensations, they look dark. Particles with
are greyish. So
indicates if a complex visual experience is overall brighter or darker than some dull grey sensation.
Angular Momentum
Spin | Helicity | Seeds |
---|---|---|
spin-up | ![]() | ![]() |
non-rotating | ![]() | ![]() |
spin-down | ![]() | ![]() |
Consider some particle P that is described by its helicity. If
then we say that P is a spin-up particle. Conversely, if
then P is called a spin-down particle. And if
then we say that P is not rotating. The helicity of a particle depends on the coefficients of its rotating seeds
and
So the spin also depends on these coefficients as shown in the accompanying table.
If P is being used as a frame of reference, then and
also determine the phase of other particles. So these rotating seeds have an important role in describing motion. This task is expanded by including the coefficients of leptonic seeds
and
to specify some momenta. Recall that
is the electric polarity and
is the magnetic polarity. Then we define
These three numbers are components of the total angular momentum vector which is written as Exchanging quarks for anti-quarks alters conjugate seeds but does not change thermodynamic seed counts, so
In general, the components ,
and
have non-zero values, and P’s motion is complicated. But for a particle that is not electrically or magnetically polarized we may construct a framework where P is centered on the electric and magnetic axes. Then it is easy to assess the norm of
because
and
The angular momentum vector is aligned with the polar-axis. We can write
and so
This expression can be simplified because the total angular momentum quantum number is defined by
The Handedness
Let a quark model of P be characterized by and
the coefficients of its rotating seeds. And let
be different from
so that the angular-momentum quantum number
is not zero. Then P is rotating and it has a well-defined angular momentum vector. Furthermore, let P also be described by
and
the coefficients of its stereochemical seeds. That is,
marks the total number of levo quarks and
notes the quantity of all dextro quarks in P. Then the particle’s rotation is characterized by its handedness which is written as
and defined by
If then we say that the particle is levorotatory. That is, its rotation is turning with a left-handed disposition compared to the angular-momentum vector. But if
then P is called dextrorotatory or right-handed. These rotational characteristics are later associated with geometric isomerism in chemical molecules.
For spacetime descriptions, the handedness of a rotating particle may be depicted using stripes on its angular-momentum vector, like a barber’s pole. But the stereochemical quarks are millions of times smaller than leptonic and baryonic quarks. So for simplicity, stripes and stereochemical-quarks are just not included in many illustrations. Then the handedness of a particle may be noted in extra text, or perhaps completely set aside as an implicit assumption.
Conservation of Angular Momentum
If then the
-component of the angular momentum vector can be expressed in terms of
as
And if then the radical is approximately one, and
Similar results obtain for the other axes so that
But seeds are conserved, so the quantity and character of the seeds in a description cannot change. Whenever some generic compound quarks ,
and
interact, if
then the coefficients for any sort of seed Z are related as
Then by the associative properties of addition, the angular momentum must be approximately conserved too
For macroscopic particles, is huge because
is so small, and the approximation is excellent.
Charge Symmetry
Let some quark model for particle P be described by a chain of events where the quarks in each orbital cycle can be parsed into two sets
that have opposite magnetic polarities
Then and
are called the northern and southern components of P. When these two components have the same charge
then the outcome of any calculation using the charge is not affected by a change of polarity. The magnetic polarity is used to specify direction on the magnetic axis. So for quark models of P, the charge distribution along the magnetic axis is symmetric. Descriptions of phenomena associated with the charge of P are unaltered by any confusion or mix-up between north and south. This indifference is useful, so if
then we say that P has charge-symmetry on the magnetic-axis. See the quark model of atomic hydrogen for an example of this kind of symmetry.
Sensory interpretation: Magnetic polarity can be interpreted as a description of if a visual sensation is more reddish or greenish. So for quark models with charge-symmetry on the magnetic-axis, the charge distribution does not depend on how the model is objectified from red and green sensations. This symmetry relieves us from having to pay very much attention to whether a sensation is red or green.
Alternatively, let P be described by a chain of events where the quarks in each orbital cycle can be parsed into two sets
that have opposite electric polarities
Then and
are called the positive and negative components of P. When these two components have the same charge
then the outcome of any calculation using the charge is not affected by a change of polarity. The electric polarity is used to specify direction on the electric axis. So for quark models of P, the charge distribution along the electric axis is symmetric. Descriptions of phenomena associated with the charge of P are unaltered by any confusion or mix-up between positive and negative components. This indifference is useful, so if
then we say that P has charge-symmetry on the electric-axis. See this quark model of an electron for an example of electric-axis charge-symmetry.
Sensory interpretation: Electric polarity can be understood as a binary description of if a complex visual sensation is more yellowish or blueish. So for a quark model with charge-symmetry on the electric-axis, the charge distribution does not depend on how the model is objectified from yellow and blue sensations. This symmetry relieves us from having to pay very much attention to whether a sensation is yellow or blue.
Work
Consider a quark model of P that is characterized by some repetitive chain of events where each orbital cycle is a bundle of quarks written as
Let these quarks be assembled into a model of P. The work required to bring these quarks together to build the model is defined as
where is the surface area of P. We consider that
might be an imaginary number because the surface area may be negative or facing inward under some circumstances. Recall that the constant
was introduced earlier to relate the internal energy of quarks to their radii. So
is just another, slightly different representation for the internal energy of the quarks in P.
Models of particles and anti-particles have opposing radius vectors, that is But they both have the same surface area. So the work required to assemble the quark model of any particle is the same as the work done to build a model of its corresponding anti-particle
If extra quarks are absorbed or emitted by P, then is replaced by a new bundle
and
changes to
The quantity
may be used to describe the change. Particle radii may also vary, and then we say that the interaction has done work on the particle by changing its shape. The square of the work can be written as
where the constants are components of the terrestrial metric, and
are components of P’s radius vector. This expression is important for calculating the mass of P.
