Physics in Game Engines

Direction: the way an object is aiming or facing

Speed: determines how far (distance) per unit time an object should move. In Gamemaker Studio 2, this is measured in pixels (distance) per step (time).

Velocity: the speed of an object in a particular direction. The difference in speed and velocity in Gamemaker Studio 2 is shown here on the x axis:


Acceleration: the rate of change in velocity over time:


Friction: resistance to motion of one object moving relative to another. In Gamemaker Studio 2, the friction property can be set that will slowly decay an objects speed by subtracting an amount of friction per step (time) from the speed of an object (until it reaches 0).

Drag: similiar to friction, but not constant - drag is variable resistance from liquid or gas (e.g. air) and may vary depending on factors such as object size and shape, velocity, and / or other physical properties.

Gravity: a constant, cumulative force that will accelerate an object in its direction.