---
title: "Move Matter Body Along a Path"
description: "Demonstrates how to move a Matter.js physics body along a curve by calculating velocity vectors between points on an elliptical path."
phaser: "4.1.0"
size: "800x600"
files: 1
url: https://phaser.io/oss/examples/v4.1.0/paths/view/velocity-from-tangent-vectors
site: Phaser - https://phaser.io
---

> This page is about the open-source Phaser framework, for writing a game's code by hand. To make a game with AI, use Phaser AE (https://phaser.io/): the desk's tools work with Web MCP, and the CLI works with your own coding agent. See "For AI agents: Phaser AE" at the end of this page.

# Move Matter Body Along a Path

Demonstrates how to move a Matter.js physics body along a curve by calculating velocity vectors between points on an elliptical path.

A Phaser 4.1.0 example in [Paths](https://phaser.io/oss/examples/v4.1.0/paths.md). It runs at 800 × 600, and loads its assets from https://cdn.phaserfiles.com/v410. See it running, with its code, at https://phaser.io/oss/examples/v4.1.0/paths/view/velocity-from-tangent-vectors.

To run it, load Phaser 4.1.0 (`https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/phaser@4.1.0/dist/phaser.min.js`), then the file, on a page with a `<div id="game-container">`.

## Code

### velocity from tangent vectors.js

```js
class Example extends Phaser.Scene
{
    tempVecP;
    tempVec;
    ship;
    points;
    curve;
    t = 0;

    preload ()
    {
        this.load.setBaseURL('https://cdn.phaserfiles.com/v410');
        this.load.image('ship', 'assets/sprites/lemming.png');
    }

    create ()
    {
        // var p0 = new Phaser.Math.Vector2(100, 500);
        // var p1 = new Phaser.Math.Vector2(50, 100);
        // var p2 = new Phaser.Math.Vector2(600, 100);
        // var p3 = new Phaser.Math.Vector2(750, 300);
        // curve = new Phaser.Curves.CubicBezier(p0, p1, p2, p3);

        this.curve = new Phaser.Curves.Ellipse(400, 300, 200);

        this.points = this.curve.getSpacedPoints(32);

        this.tempVec = new Phaser.Math.Vector2();
        this.tempVecP = new Phaser.Math.Vector2();

        this.ship = this.matter.add.image(this.points[0].x, this.points[0].y, 'ship');
        this.ship.setFrictionAir(0.0005);

        this.nextPoint(this);
    }

    update ()
    {
        // var t = curve.getUtoTmapping(map.u);

        // curve.getPoint(t + 0.1, tempVecP);
        // curve.getTangent(t, tempVec);

        // tempVec.scale(180);

        // ship.setVelocity(tempVec.x, tempVec.y);

        // ship.rotation = Phaser.Math.Angle.Between(ship.x, ship.y, tempVecP.x, tempVecP.y);
    }

    nextPoint (scene)
    {
        const next = this.points[this.t % this.points.length];

        this.moveToXY(this.ship, next.x, next.y, 0, 500);

        this.t++;

        scene.time.addEvent({ delay: 500, callback: this.nextPoint, callbackScope: scene, args: [ scene ] });
    }

    moveToXY (gameObject, x, y, speed, maxTime)
    {
        if (speed === undefined) { speed = 60; }
        if (maxTime === undefined) { maxTime = 0; }

        const angle = Math.atan2(y - gameObject.y, x - gameObject.x);

        if (maxTime > 0)
        {
            //  We know how many pixels we need to move, but how fast?
            const dx = gameObject.x - x;
            const dy = gameObject.y - y;

            speed = Math.sqrt(dx * dx + dy * dy) / (maxTime / 1000);
        }

        gameObject.setVelocityX((Math.cos(angle) * speed) / 100);
        gameObject.setVelocityY((Math.sin(angle) * speed) / 100);

        // gameObject.rotation = angle;
    }
}

const config = {
    scale: { mode: Phaser.Scale.FIT },
    type: Phaser.AUTO,
    width: 800,
    height: 600,
    backgroundColor: '#2d2d2d',
    parent: 'game-container',
    physics: {
        default: 'matter',
        matter: {
            gravity: {
                scale: 0
            }
        }
    },
    scene: Example
};

const game = new Phaser.Game(config);
```

## More in Paths

- [Circle Loop Path](https://phaser.io/oss/examples/v4.1.0/paths/view/circle-loop-path.md): Demonstrates creating a complex path by combining multiple circular curves and moving an object along the resulting path using a tween.
- [Circle Path](https://phaser.io/oss/examples/v4.1.0/paths/view/circle-path.md): Demonstrates creating a circular path using an Ellipse curve and moving a graphic along it by tweening a progress value.
- [Complex Path Bounds](https://phaser.io/oss/examples/v4.1.0/paths/view/complex-path-bounds.md): Demonstrates how to calculate and visualize the bounding rectangle of a complex path composed of multiple segment types including lines, splines, ellipses, and bezier curves.
- [Line to Ellipse Path](https://phaser.io/oss/examples/v4.1.0/paths/view/line-to-ellipse.md): Demonstrates building a complex path using a combination of straight lines and elliptical curves, with an object animated along the path.
- [Move To](https://phaser.io/oss/examples/v4.1.0/paths/view/move-to.md): Demonstrates how to use the moveTo method to reposition the path starting point for a new segment without creating a connecting line.
- [Path Bounds](https://phaser.io/oss/examples/v4.1.0/paths/view/path-bounds.md): Learn how to calculate and visualize the bounding box of a complex path containing multiple curve segments.
- [Path Line and Bezier Curve](https://phaser.io/oss/examples/v4.1.0/paths/view/path-line-and-bezier.md): Demonstrates how to construct a complex path by combining straight lines and cubic Bezier curves, and how to animate an object along the resulting path using a Tween.
- [Path with Line Segments](https://phaser.io/oss/examples/v4.1.0/paths/view/path-add-line-curve.md): Construct a multi-segment path using lineTo and animate an object moving along the path using a tween and getPoint.
- [Path with Multiple Segment Types](https://phaser.io/oss/examples/v4.1.0/paths/view/all-types.md): Demonstrates how to construct a complex path by combining splines, lines, ellipses, and cubic Bezier curves, while moving a follower along its length.
- [Procedural Scrolling Landscape Path](https://phaser.io/oss/examples/v4.1.0/paths/view/landscape-path.md): Create an infinitely scrolling landscape using dynamic Paths and Graphics. This example demonstrates extending paths with random segments and using fillPoints to render filled terrain shapes.
- [Simple Path and Follower](https://phaser.io/oss/examples/v4.1.0/paths/view/simple-path.md): Demonstrates creating a path from multiple line segments and using a tween to move an object along the entire path length, even if the curves are not connected.
- [Zig Zag Path](https://phaser.io/oss/examples/v4.1.0/paths/view/zig-zag-path.md): Create a custom zig-zag path using line segments and move multiple sprites along it by interpolating points based on tweened values.

---

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