/physics-system

name: physics-system
description: Use when working with physics bodies, collision shapes, raycasting, areas, rigid bodies, ragdolls, soft bodies, Jolt physics, and physics interpolation in Godot 4.3+

Physics System in Godot 4.3+

All examples target Godot 4.3+ with no deprecated APIs. GDScript is shown first, then C#.

> **Related skills:** **player-controller** for CharacterBody2D/3D movement patterns, **component-system** for hitbox/hurtbox composition, **godot-optimization** for physics performance tuning, **camera-system** for camera follow and interpolation, **multiplayer-sync** for networked physics, **2d-essentials** for tile collision setup and 2D canvas layers.

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1. Physics Body Types

Four collision-object types (the last three extend `PhysicsBody2D`/`3D`):

| Type | Moved by | Use for | |------|----------|---------| | `Area2D/3D` | Code | Overlap detection, gravity zones, audio zones | | `StaticBody2D/3D` | Not moved (or `constant_linear_velocity`) | Walls, floors, conveyor belts | | `RigidBody2D/3D` | Physics engine | Crates, projectiles, debris, ragdolls | | `CharacterBody2D/3D` | Code | Players, enemies, NPCs (see **player-controller**) |

Every collision object needs at least one `CollisionShape2D`/`3D` (or `CollisionPolygon2D`/`3D`) child. **Jolt Physics is the default 3D engine since 4.4** (non-experimental from 4.6) — see Section 8. 2D always uses GodotPhysics.

> **Critical rule:** NEVER scale collision shapes or physics bodies via `scale`. Use the shape's own size parameters (radius, extents, height) — scaling breaks collision accuracy.

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2. RigidBody2D/3D

Forces vs Impulses

| Method | Effect | When to use | |---|---|---| | `apply_force(force, position)` | Continuous accel at point | Thrusters, wind, magnets | | `apply_central_force(force)` | Continuous accel at center | Gravity, constant push | | `apply_impulse(impulse, position)` | Instant velocity change at point | Bullet hit, explosion | | `apply_central_impulse(impulse)` | Instant velocity change at center | Jump, knockback | | `apply_torque(torque)` | Continuous angular accel | Steering, spinning | | `apply_torque_impulse(impulse)` | Instant angular velocity change | Impact spin |

> See [references/rigidbody-recipes.md](references/rigidbody-recipes.md) for a thrust-and-spin example (GDScript + C#) using `apply_force` + `apply_central_impulse` + `apply_torque`.

_integrate_forces() — Safe Physics Modification

Use `_integrate_forces(state)` instead of `_physics_process()` to read/modify a RigidBody's transform, velocity, or angular velocity. Setting `position` or `linear_velocity` directly in `_physics_process()` fights the physics engine.

> **Warning:** `_integrate_forces()` is NOT called while the body is sleeping. Set `can_sleep = false` if you need continuous callbacks; otherwise let bodies sleep for performance.

> See [references/rigidbody-recipes.md](references/rigidbody-recipes.md) for the thrust + torque example using `state.apply_force` / `state.apply_torque` (GDScript + C#).

Contact Monitoring, PhysicsMaterial, Freeze, look_at

• **Contact signals** require `contact_monitor = true` + `max_contacts_reported > 0`. Then `body_entered`/`body_exited` fire.
• **`PhysicsMaterial`** resource controls `friction` (0 ice → 1 rubber) and `bounce` (0 → 1).
• **Freeze modes:** `FREEZE_MODE_STATIC` (acts like a StaticBody) or `FREEZE_MODE_KINEMATIC` (code-moved, pushes others).
• **RigidBody3D orientation:** never `look_at()` a RigidBody — use `_integrate_forces` and set `state.angular_velocity` from a cross-product steering term.

> See [references/rigidbody-recipes.md](references/rigidbody-recipes.md) for full GDScript + C# recipes (contact handler with `take_damage`, PhysicsMaterial property table, freeze toggle, RigidBody3D homing-via-angular-velocity).

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3. StaticBody2D/3D

`StaticBody` is not moved by the physics engine but can push other bodies via `constant_linear_velocity` (e.g. conveyor belts). For platforms that move via code AND push CharacterBodies, use **`AnimatableBody2D`/`3D`** — a code-moved `StaticBody` won't push CharacterBodies reliably.

> See [references/staticbody-recipes.md](references/staticbody-recipes.md) for the conveyor belt and moving-platform recipes (GDScript + C#, with Tween-driven AnimatableBody2D loop).

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4. Area2D/3D

Areas detect overlaps and override physics properties within their bounds. They do NOT produce collision responses — bodies pass through them. Connect `body_entered` / `body_exited` for body overlaps; use `area_entered` / `area_exited` for Area-to-Area (hitbox vs hurtbox — see **component-system**). Areas can also override gravity (zero-G zones, point gravity / black holes), `linear_damp` / `angular_damp` (water, slow-mo), and redirect audio to a specific `AudioBus`. When multiple areas overlap, `priority` decides order; pick a `space_override` mode (`COMBINE`, `REPLACE`, `COMBINE_REPLACE`, `REPLACE_COMBINE`).

> See [references/area-recipes.md](references/area-recipes.md) for the GDScript + C# overlap-detection canonical example, the space-override mode reference table, and zero-G + point-gravity recipes.

> ⚠️ **Changed in Godot 4.7:** With Jolt Physics, `Area3D` now reports overlaps with `SoftBody3D` from its signals and methods. Configure collision layers/masks so any unwanted `Area3D` ↔ `SoftBody3D` interactions are ignored. See the [4.7 migration guide](https://docs.godotengine.org/en/latest/tutorials/migrating/upgrading_to_godot_4.7.html).

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5. Collision Shapes

| Shape (2D / 3D) | Use case | |---|---| | `Rectangle` / `Box` | Crates, platforms, rooms | | `Circle` / `Sphere` | Balls, projectiles, simple characters, trigger zones | | `Capsule` (2D & 3D) | Characters — rounded, slides over edges | | `Segment2D` / — | Thin walls, laser beams | | `SeparationRay2D` / — | Character ground snapping | | `WorldBoundary2D` / — | Infinite floor/wall/ceiling | | — / `Cylinder3D` | Pillars, barrels (Jolt only — u