# Physics Pose and Physics Area components

> Understand the Physics Pose and Physics Area components you use to build a 2D Physics Core object.

Understand the Physics Pose and Physics Area components you use to build 2D physics objects.

> **Note:**
>
> This documentation is about using Pose, Area, and Constraint components. To use 2D physics in the Unity Editor using components like the Rigidbody 2D component, refer to [2D physics](/engine/6000.7/manual/unity2d/2d-physics.md.md) instead.

A physics GameObject in 2D Physics Core needs the following components:

* A **Physics Pose** component, which makes the GameObject a 2D Physics Core object.
* One or more **Physics Area** components, which give the GameObject a shape to collide with and display.

## Pose

A Physics Pose component sets the following:

* How and when Unity updates the position and rotation of the GameObject with the result of physics calculations.
* Which simulation world the GameObject belongs to.
* Whether the GameObject is fixed in place or responds to forces like gravity.
* How the GameObject responds to forces.

A Physics Pose component doesn't have a physical shape.

Poses store a [`PhysicsBody`](/engine/6000.7/script-reference/unity/u2d/physics/physicsbody.md) object, so some 2D Physics Core properties in components refer to the underlying body.

## Area

A Physics Area component sets the shape of a GameObject for physics calculations and collisions.

An Area component also sets which other shapes it can collide with, and its surface properties such as friction and bounciness.

Areas store a [`PhysicsShape`](/engine/6000.7/script-reference/unity/u2d/physics/physicsshape.md) object, so some 2D Physics Core properties in components refer to the underlying shape.

2D Physics Core provides nine types of Physics Area component.

| **Physics Area component**                                                                                        | **Shape**                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Physics Area Capsule](/engine/6000.7/manual/unity2d/2d-physics-api/create-objects/reference-area-capsule.md)     | A capsule formed by a central line and a radius.                                                                                                                                                         |
| [Physics Area Circle](/engine/6000.7/manual/unity2d/2d-physics-api/create-objects/reference-area-circle.md)       | A circle with a center and a radius.                                                                                                                                                                     |
| [Physics Area Composite](/engine/6000.7/manual/unity2d/2d-physics-api/create-objects/reference-area-composite.md) | A compound shape that combines other shapes. For more information, refer to [Combine Physics Core 2D API shapes](/engine/6000.7/manual/unity2d/2d-physics-api/create-objects/connect-combine-shapes.md). |
| [Physics Area Contour](/engine/6000.7/manual/unity2d/2d-physics-api/create-objects/reference-area-contour.md)     | A set of points that form a closed shape. Concave sections are allowed.                                                                                                                                  |
| [Physics Area Path](/engine/6000.7/manual/unity2d/2d-physics-api/create-objects/reference-area-path.md)           | A set of points that form a barrier.                                                                                                                                                                     |
| [Physics Area Polygon](/engine/6000.7/manual/unity2d/2d-physics-api/create-objects/reference-area-polygon.md)     | A set of points that form a closed shape. Concave sections aren't allowed.                                                                                                                               |
| [Physics Area Primitive](/engine/6000.7/manual/unity2d/2d-physics-api/create-objects/reference-area-primitive.md) | Lets you select between a circle, capsule, polygon, segment, or chain segment.                                                                                                                           |
| [Physics Area Segment](/engine/6000.7/manual/unity2d/2d-physics-api/create-objects/reference-area-segment.md)     | Two points that form a line.                                                                                                                                                                             |
| [Physics Area Sprite](/engine/6000.7/manual/unity2d/2d-physics-api/create-objects/reference-area-sprite.md)       | The [physics outline](/engine/6000.7/manual/unity2d/sprite/sprite-editor-window-reference/custom-physics-shape-editor-reference.md) of a sprite.                                                         |

You can add multiple areas to a GameObject. For example, add one area for the solid part of a character, then a second, larger area as a trigger zone that detects when something enters it.

## Additional resources

* [Physics Pose component reference](/engine/6000.7/manual/unity2d/2d-physics-api/create-objects/reference-body.md)
* [Add physics to a GameObject with 2D Physics Core](/engine/6000.7/manual/unity2d/2d-physics-api/create-objects/physics-object.md)
* [Add physics to a sprite with 2D Physics Core](/engine/6000.7/manual/unity2d/2d-physics-api/create-objects/add-sprite.md)
* [Merge 2D Physics Core shapes](/engine/6000.7/manual/unity2d/2d-physics-api/create-objects/connect-combine-shapes.md)