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Applying force with AddForce

Learn to apply force to an object with Rigidbody.AddForce.

Applying force with AddForce

To move physics-driven objects, Rigidbody.AddForce is used instead of directly modifying Transform position. This method applies a vector containing direction and magnitude to the object.

Rigidbody rb = GetComponent<Rigidbody>();
// Launch the object upwards
rb.AddForce(Vector3.up * 10f);

Objects propelled by AddForce react naturally with physics responses when colliding with other obstacles.

ForceMode varieties

ForceMode.Force is used for sustained thrust applied over time (like a rocket engine). ForceMode.Impulse is ideal for sudden hits and jumping effects.

// One-time jump impulse
rb.AddForce(Vector3.up * 5f, ForceMode.Impulse);

Continuous forces are usually called inside FixedUpdate, whereas instant impulses are fired just once in a single frame.

Practice Print applied force

Assign "Impulse" to forceMode and 10 to magnitude. Print Applied Force: 10 | Mode: Impulse to the console.

Starter code

Player.cs
using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        // forceMode ve magnitude değerlerini tanımlayıp yazdır
    }
}

Sample solution

Player.cs
using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        string forceMode = "Impulse";
        int magnitude = 10;
        Console.WriteLine("Applied Force: " + magnitude + " | Mode: " + forceMode);
    }
}

Expected output

Applied Force: 10 | Mode: Impulse

Questions and answers

Review the lesson questions together with their answers. To test yourself, solve the lesson interactively.

1 Which ForceMode type is appropriate for applying an instantaneous jump or explosion impulse?

  • ForceMode.Impulse Correct answer
  • ForceMode.Acceleration
  • ForceMode.VelocityChange
  • ForceMode.Continuous

Explanation: ForceMode.Impulse applies an instant force impulse in a single frame, factoring in the object's mass.

2 Specify Impulse force mode

Question 
rb.AddForce(Vector3.forward * 10f, ForceMode.____);
Answer 
rb.AddForce(Vector3.forward * 10f, ForceMode.Impulse);

Explanation: In Unity, Impulse is selected from the ForceMode enum to apply an instant hit force.

3 Force concepts

Term Meaning
AddForce Applies physical force to Rigidbody
ForceMode.Impulse Instant impulse, mass-dependent
ForceMode.Force Force applied continuously over time
Vector3.up Upward unit vector — (0,1,0)

All lessons in Beginner

1 What is game development?

  1. Intro to game development
  2. Game engines
  3. 2D and 3D games
  4. The game loop
  5. The scene concept
  6. Summary - Game dev fundamentals

2 Unity setup

  1. Installing Unity Hub
  2. Creating your first project
  3. The editor interface
  4. Toolbar and playback
  5. Saving the project
  6. Summary - Unity setup

3 First scene project

  1. Project overview
  2. Camera and light
  3. Your first cube in the scene
  4. Adding a material
  5. Testing in Play mode
  6. Summary - First scene

4 The GameObject concept

  1. What is a GameObject?
  2. Components
  3. The Hierarchy window
  4. Editing with the Inspector
  5. Tags and Layers
  6. Summary - GameObject

5 C# script basics

  1. Your first C# script
  2. using and namespace
  3. Class structure
  4. Variables and types
  5. Output with Debug.Log
  6. Summary - C# basics

6 MonoBehaviour

  1. What is MonoBehaviour?
  2. The Start method
  3. The Update method
  4. Awake vs Start
  5. SerializeField and public
  6. Summary - MonoBehaviour

7 Transform

  1. What is Transform?
  2. Changing position
  3. Moving with Translate
  4. Changing rotation
  5. Local vs world space
  6. Summary - Transform

8 Input

  1. The Input class
  2. Axis input
  3. Mouse input
  4. The new Input System
  5. Movement vector
  6. Summary - Input

9 Physics (Rigidbody/Collider)

  1. What is a Rigidbody?
  2. What is a Collider?
  3. Applying force with AddForce
  4. Collision events
  5. Trigger events
  6. Summary - Physics

10 2D Sprite

  1. What is a Sprite?
  2. SpriteRenderer
  3. Sprite import settings
  4. Sprite sorting
  5. Preparing sprite animation
  6. Summary - 2D Sprite

11 Godot basics

  1. The Godot editor
  2. A new project
  3. The scene tree
  4. The Node concept
  5. Saving the project
  6. Summary - Godot basics

12 GDScript

  1. What is GDScript?
  2. extends and variables
  3. Function definition
  4. Output with print
  5. Type hints
  6. Summary - GDScript

13 Node and Scene

  1. Node2D and Sprite2D
  2. Saving a scene
  3. Scene instance
  4. The _ready method
  5. The _process method
  6. Summary - Node and Scene

14 Beginner final

  1. Challenge 1: Print a score
  2. Challenge 2: Movement vector
  3. Challenge 3: Godot ready
  4. Challenge 4: Collision log
  5. Challenge 5: Final synthesis