Patterns and decision rules for Unity PhysicsCore2D joints — choosing between PhysicsDistanceJoint, PhysicsFixedJoint, PhysicsHingeJoint, PhysicsIgnoreJoint, PhysicsRelativeJoint, PhysicsSliderJoint, PhysicsWheelJoint; tuning motors, limits, springs; anchor placement; breaking joints via force/torque thresholds; common assemblies (pendulums, vehicle suspension, doors, conveyors, bridges, mouse drag, ragdolls). Use when wiring up physical relationships between bodies. For full member API see unity-physicscore2d-joints-api.
Patterns and decision rules for Unity PhysicsCore2D joints — choosing between PhysicsDistanceJoint, PhysicsFixedJoint, PhysicsHingeJoint, PhysicsIgnoreJoint, PhysicsRelativeJoint, PhysicsSliderJoint, PhysicsWheelJoint; tuning motors, limits, springs; anchor placement; breaking joints via force/torque thresholds; common assemblies (pendulums, vehicle suspension, doors, conveyors, bridges, mouse drag, ragdolls). Use when wiring up physical relationships between bodies. For full member API see unity-physicscore2d-joints-api.
Unity PhysicsCore2D — Joint Patterns
Joints constrain two PhysicsBody instances (or one body + the implicit world body) in a particular way. Choosing the right joint and configuring its motor/limit/spring is most of the work — the API surface is small but the parameter space is large.
For the full type/method API surface (every property, signature, and XML doc), see unity-physicscore2d-joints-api. This skill focuses on selection rules, tuning patterns, and worked assemblies.
Joint selection — quick decision rules
Goal
Joint
Two bodies separated by a fixed distance (rope, chain link, suspension top tether)
PhysicsDistanceJoint
Two bodies welded rigidly (with optional softness) — gluing pieces of a destructible together
PhysicsFixedJoint
Rotation around a single point (door hinge, wheel axle, pendulum, ragdoll limb)
PhysicsHingeJoint
Disable collision between a specific pair of bodies without affecting layer filtering
PhysicsIgnoreJoint
Match B's position/rotation to A with controllable spring + simulated friction (top-down character control, AI follow)
PhysicsRelativeJoint
Linear motion along an axis, no rotation (elevator, piston, sliding door)
PhysicsSliderJoint
Linear suspension along an axis with rotation around a perpendicular axis (vehicle wheel)
PhysicsWheelJoint
Two joints often compose well: a PhysicsHingeJoint plus a PhysicsDistanceJoint for a swinging tether with a length stop; a PhysicsSliderJoint plus a PhysicsHingeJoint for a piston-rod assembly.
Creation pattern (consistent across all joint types)
// Build the definition (struct, copied into the joint on Create).var def = PhysicsHingeJointDefinition.defaultDefinition;
def.bodyA = anchorBody;
def.bodyB = swingBody;
def.localAnchorA = new PhysicsTransform(Vector2.zero, 0f);
def.localAnchorB = new PhysicsTransform(new Vector2(0, 1f), 0f);
def.collideConnected = false;
// Create — returns a handle struct (cheap to copy, do not cache stale copies past Destroy).var hinge = PhysicsHingeJoint.Create(world, def);
Key gotchas:
Definition is a value type. Always start from defaultDefinition so future-added fields get sensible defaults.
localAnchorA/B are in each body's local space. The joint origin is where the two anchor frames coincide in world space at creation time. The initial transforms can violate the constraint slightly — the solver will pull them together over a few steps, often with a visible jolt. Pre-position bodies so the anchors coincide.
collideConnected = false is almost always what you want for body pairs you're explicitly joining (otherwise the wrist will collide with the forearm).
Motors
Hinge, slider, and wheel joints have motors. The pattern is uniform:
hinge.enableMotor = true;
hinge.motorSpeed = Mathf.PI; // radians/sec for hinge, m/s for slider/wheel
hinge.maxMotorTorque = 50f; // Nm cap (slider/wheel use maxMotorForce in N)
Tuning tips:
Start with a generous max torque (~10× expected steady-state load); reduce only if you see oscillation.
Motor speed sets the target; max torque limits how aggressively the solver pursues it. A stalled motor (hitting the cap) is normal and how you simulate friction or weight.
For "free spinning" with no drive, set enableMotor = false rather than motorSpeed = 0 — the latter actively brakes.
Read currentMotorTorque (hinge) / currentMotorForce (slider/wheel) to drive UI, audio, or fuel/battery drain.
Angles for hinge are in radians. Slider/wheel limits are in meters along the axis.
The solver enforces limits by injecting impulses at the boundary. Hard limits can chatter — pair with a small tuningDamping if needed (defaults are usually fine).
Springs (soft constraints)
All joint types except PhysicsIgnoreJoint expose spring-style softness via enableSpring, springFrequency (Hz), and springDamping (0–1, where 1 ≈ critical). Use this when you want bouncy/compliant behavior:
// Soft-weld two bodies using PhysicsFixedJoint spring parameters.// Source: SoftbodyFactory.cs (PhysicsExamples2D) — adapted for clarity.//// PhysicsFixedJoint has four spring knobs:// linearFrequency / linearDamping — controls translational spring (Hz / 0-1)// angularFrequency / angularDamping — controls rotational spring (Hz / 0-1)// Use zero frequency for maximum (rigid) stiffness on either axis independently.var fixedDef = new PhysicsFixedJointDefinition
{
bodyA = bodyA,
bodyB = bodyB,
// Anchor at each body's local connection point.
localAnchorA = new Vector2(0f, 0.5f * segmentLength),
localAnchorB = new Vector2(0f, -0.5f * segmentLength),
// Soft rotational spring — allows flex like a soft-body segment joint.
angularFrequency = 5f, // Hz; keep below stepRate/4 for stability
angularDamping = 0.7f, // 0 = no damping, 1 = critically damped// Linear spring — leave at 0 for rigid translation (maximum stiffness).
linearFrequency = 0f,
linearDamping = 1f,
collideConnected = false,
};
PhysicsFixedJoint.Create(world, fixedDef);
// Runtime tuning (e.g. applying damage):
fixedJoint.angularFrequency = 2f; // weaker — more flex
fixedJoint.angularDamping = 0.3f; // less damped — more bounce
fixedJoint.WakeBodies();
Tuning rules of thumb:
springFrequency < your step rate / 4 (e.g. <15 Hz at 60 fps) for stable behavior.
springDamping = 1 is critically damped (no bounce, fastest settle). < 1 overshoots; > 1 over-damps.
A "rigid weld" with PhysicsFixedJoint and enableSpring = false cannot perfectly hold heavy chains — for those cases, mild spring + high frequency is usually better than fighting the solver.
Breaking joints via thresholds
Set forceThreshold / torqueThreshold to non-infinity to receive JointThresholdEvent from PhysicsWorld.jointThresholdEvents once the constraint exceeds the value. Wire a PhysicsCallbacks.IJointThreshold callback to destroy the joint and trigger an effect:
2. Vehicle wheel suspension (wheel joint with motor)
// Vehicle wheel suspension — source: CarFactory.cs (PhysicsExamples2D).//// The suspension axis is encoded as the ROTATION of localAnchorA's frame,// NOT a separate localAxisA field (which does not exist on PhysicsWheelJointDefinition).// PhysicsRotate.FromRadians(PI/2) makes the anchor frame point upward in chassis-local// space, so the wheel slides vertically relative to the chassis.var suspensionAxis = PhysicsRotate.FromRadians(PhysicsMath.PI * 0.5f); // straight up// --- Chassis and wheel bodies (Dynamic) created beforehand ---// Rear wheel.var rearPivot = rearWheelBody.position; // world-space attach pointvar rearWheelDef = new PhysicsWheelJointDefinition
{
bodyA = chassisBody,
bodyB = rearWheelBody,
// localAnchorA carries both position AND the suspension-axis rotation.
localAnchorA = new PhysicsTransform(chassisBody.GetLocalPoint(rearPivot), suspensionAxis),
localAnchorB = rearWheelBody.GetLocalPoint(rearPivot), // implicit Vector2 → PhysicsTransform
collideConnected = false,
// Suspension spring — keeps wheel pressed to ground while absorbing bumps.
enableSpring = true,
springFrequency = 5f, // Hz; typical range 2–8 for vehicle suspension
springDamping = 0.7f, // 0.7 is a common critically-near value// Travel limits — how far the wheel can compress / extend.
enableLimit = true,
lowerTranslationLimit = -0.25f, // metres downward extension
upperTranslationLimit = 0.25f, // metres upward compression// Drive motor on the wheel axle.
enableMotor = true,
motorSpeed = 0f, // set at runtime via wheelJoint.motorSpeed
maxMotorTorque = 10f,
};
var rearWheelJoint = world.CreateJoint(rearWheelDef);
// Front wheel (same pattern, different pivot).var frontPivot = frontWheelBody.position;
var frontWheelDef = new PhysicsWheelJointDefinition
{
bodyA = chassisBody,
bodyB = frontWheelBody,
localAnchorA = new PhysicsTransform(chassisBody.GetLocalPoint(frontPivot), suspensionAxis),
localAnchorB = frontWheelBody.GetLocalPoint(frontPivot),
collideConnected = false,
enableSpring = true,
springFrequency = 5f,
springDamping = 0.7f,
enableLimit = true,
lowerTranslationLimit = -0.25f,
upperTranslationLimit = 0.25f,
enableMotor = true,
motorSpeed = 0f,
maxMotorTorque = 10f,
};
var frontWheelJoint = world.CreateJoint(frontWheelDef);
// --- Drive input (call each frame) ---voidSetCarSpeed(float degreesPerSec)
{
rearWheelJoint.motorSpeed = degreesPerSec;
frontWheelJoint.motorSpeed = degreesPerSec;
rearWheelJoint.WakeBodies();
}
3. Mouse drag (distance joint to a kinematic mouse body)
Create one kinematic anchor body that you teleport to the cursor each frame. Attach a soft distance joint when the user picks up an object; destroy it on release.
This also keeps both bodies in the same simulation island (woken/slept and solved together), which can be useful for performance with linked mechanisms.
Drawing & debugging
Every joint has a Draw() method and a worldDrawing flag. Set worldDrawing = true (or call the world's debug draw with joint visuals enabled) to see anchors, axes, and motor state. Adjust drawScale if the visuals are too small/large for your scene scale.
Best practices
Always start from defaultDefinition — never zero-init a joint definition struct.
Set collideConnected = false for any pair you're joining unless you have a specific reason otherwise.
Anchor frames must coincide at creation — pre-position bodies before calling Create.
Use localAxisA (slider/wheel) deliberately — the axis is in body-A's local frame and rotates with it.
Don't read currentConstraintForce / currentMotorTorque before the first simulation step — values are zero until then.
Destroy the joint, not the bodies, when you want to disconnect — destroying a body cascades to its joints automatically.
For breakable joints, set thresholds, not "infinite force" limits — limits are about position; thresholds are about force.
Common pitfalls
Setting motorSpeed = 0 to "stop" a motor — this brakes hard. Use enableMotor = false.
Using degrees for hinge angle limits — they're in radians.
Chains of PhysicsFixedJoint going limp under load — the approximate solver can't perfectly weld many bodies. Use PhysicsComposer to merge geometry into one body where possible, or use mild spring softness.
Tightening springs with springFrequency >> step rate — causes instability. Cap at ~step rate / 4.
Forgetting to subscribe a callback target before threshold events fire — the event still fires from world.jointThresholdEvents, but IJointThreshold.OnJointThreshold2D only fires if callbackTarget is set.
