Magnetic Classroom Demonstration of Nuclear Fusion
Channel: Alternating Quark Channel
Date: 2023-05-20

Nuclear fusion between atoms must first overcome the Coulomb barrier separating them.  The 2:1 magnet ratio was inspired by the 2:1 ratio of quark charge in the nucleus (+2/3 up quark and -1/3 down quark). The Magnetic Fusion Model demonstrates a magnetic potential barrier as a classroom model of the microscopic Coulomb potential barrier. Each of the two rotating magnet arrays contains  2 North-facing magnets alternating with 1 South-facing magnet. The resulting electromagnetic fields demonstrate repulsion at a distance and strong short-range attraction.

I hold a patent on the model ("Magnetic Potential. Energy Barrier, Raymond James Walsh, US patent 11,087,910 B2, priority March 21, 2019 ), so feel free to build one for personal use, The 3D print file and instructions are available at https://www.tinkercad.com/things/l93kiuYv8Zl and https://www.tinkercad.com/things/5v6kdKpf928 

The thumbnail graph was determined by measuring the force between the upper and lower magnet arrays with distance. The repulsive force slowly increases to a maximum then falls off precipitously as repulsion transitions to strong attraction when the two arrays come to within 1.3 centimeters of each other.