The strong nuclear force is on par with gravity and electromagnetism as a fundamental force. And yet, while the human experience is full of reminders of the consequences of gravity and electromagnetism, the same cannot be said of the strong nuclear force. Its unique behavior can only be understood through modeling and representation. Alternating and unequal electromagnetic fields offer a simple way to model the abstract behavior of the strong force within both the Coulomb barrier and quark confinement. Given the unrealized dream of sustained nuclear fusion (despite decades of earnest effort), a greater understanding of the nature of the strong force may prove indispensable.