XPost: sci.physics   
   From: someone@microsoft.com   
      
   > An isolated neutron will on average, in its own rest frame, decay into an   
   > electron and a proton in less than 15 minutes. The electron is an   
   > indivisible particle, while the proton is not.   
   >   
   > The nucleus of all atoms except hydrogen, is some kind of ensemble of   
   > protons and neutron, bound by the strong nuclear force. Isolated protons   
   > and neutrons are each identical particles. This may be true even if they   
   > are not isolated.   
   >   
   > According to the standard model, protons and neutron are each some kind of   
   > ensemble of quarks, bound by the strong nuclear force.   
   >   
   > Question: to what extent can we consider the nucleus an ensemble of quarks   
   > without recourse to the proton/neutron description of the nucleus?   
   >   
   > Thanks.   
      
   Supplementary question:   
      
   Which is better, the proton/neutron description or the quark soup model, for   
   prediction of observables, like the scattering diameter of a nucleus? On the   
   other hand, are any such observables, useful for refinement of the strong   
   nuclear force in the standard model?   
      
   Thanks again.   
      
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