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Generalisation

Previously we gave this example model of an atomic nucleus:

This model can be expressed in a different way using the generalisation nucleon of the individual terms proton and neutron by stating: an atomic nucleus is composed of one or more nucleons; every nucleon is either a proton or a neutron. In an entity model diagram the generalisation type is shown as a box containing the specific types; so the model may be expressed thus:

Be aware that there is a minor difference between this way of expressing the situation and the first form: when expressed in this latter form the model is consistent with a nucleus with one neutron and zero protons - physics teaches us that such nuclei will not occur in the real world.

The same generalisation can be used to express that protons and neutrons are combinations of quarks:

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