Illustrations often depict subatomic particles as small balls or spheres for the purpose of simplification and visualization. In reality, subatomic particles, such as electrons, quarks, and photons, are not actually tiny balls or solid objects in the conventional sense. Instead, they are described by quantum field theory as excitations or disturbances in their respective quantum fields.
Quantum field theory describes particles as quantum fields that permeate all of spacetime. These fields are associated with specific particles and have properties such as energy, momentum, and spin. According to this framework, particles can be understood as localized excitations or quantized disturbances in their respective fields. These excitations can exhibit particle-like behavior, including discrete energy levels and interactions with other particles.
While it is true that subatomic particles are not literally ball-shaped objects, the ball-like representation is a convenient and intuitive way to visualize their presence and interaction in diagrams and illustrations. It helps to convey the idea that particles occupy specific locations in space and can move and interact with other particles.
However, it's important to recognize that the ball-like representation is a simplification and should not be taken as a literal depiction of subatomic particles. Quantum field theory provides a more accurate and comprehensive description of the nature of particles as excitations in quantum fields.