Lens Studio Physics Workshop

Part 1 | Floating Object

Make any 3D object float in place, that bobs up and down and slowly rotates. Hover over it to see an outline highlight. Grab and drag it anywhere, and when you let go it floats from its new position.

Important Note

If you are adding your own meshes, make sure your object is positioned at the origin (0, 0, 0) before adding the script or the rotation will be off.

Scene Setup

Start by making an empty scene object called 'Floating Object', and add the following objects within this object to keep things organized!

Step 1 | Create your object

• In the Scene Hierarchy click +
• Add a sphere mesh / any 3D mesh, or import your own .glb asset
• Position it where you'd like

Step 2 | Add a Physics Body

• With your object selected click Add Component
• Search for Physics Body and add it
• Uncheck Dynamic otherwise the mesh will fall due to gravity

Step 3 | Adding other Components

• Click Add Component → Interactable
• Click Add Component → InteractableManipulation Component
• Click Add Component → InteractableOutlineFeedback
  • Under Mesh Visuals click Add Value, and drag your object's Render Mesh Visual component into the slot
• Adjust the hovering color and outline weight settings to your liking

Step 4 | Add the FloatAnimation script

• Add a new script, and name it FloatAnimation
• In the Github Repository, copy and paste the FloatAnimation script in the Scripts folder into your script
• On your object, add the FloatAnimation script component to it
• Adjust the Bob Height, Bob Speed, and Rotate Speed values in the Inspector to your liking

How it Works

InteractableManipulation handles all drag logic out of the box, so there's no drag scripting needed. FloatAnimation drives the idle bob and rotation and pauses itself when the object is held. This animation is reusable on any object!

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Part 2 | Chaining Objects

Three objects connected as a chain using physics constraints. Grab the top one and the whole chain dangles and swings with real physics. Let go and everything floats back in place.

Scene Setup

Start by making an empty scene object called 'Chaining Objects', and add the following objects within this object to keep things organized!

Step 1 | Create your three objects

1. Drag 3 spheres into your Scene Object
2. Name them Sphere1, Sphere2, Sphere3
3. Position them vertically one above the other in the scene (in order)

Step 2 | Set up Sphere1 (top anchor)

• Click Add Component → Physics Body
  • Check Dynamic
  • Set Damping to 0.9
  • Set Angular Damping to 0.9
• Click Add Component → Interactable
• Click Add Component → InteractableManipulation
• Click Add Component → InteractableOutlineFeedback
  • Add Sphere1's Render Mesh Visual to the Mesh Visuals list
• Click Add Component → FloatAnimation
  • Script should be there from the previous part

Step 3 | Set up Sphere2 (middle link)

• Click Add Component → Physics Body
  • Check Dynamic
  • Set Damping to 0.9
  • Set Angular Damping to 0.9
• On the Physics Body component click Add Constraint Object
  • A Constraint child object will appear in the hierarchy under Sphere2
  • Select it and in the Inspector set:
    • Target: Sphere1 : Physics Body
    • Constraint Type: Point

Step 4 | Set up Sphere3 (bottom link)

• Click Add Component → Physics Body
  • Check Dynamic
  • Set Damping to 0.9
  • Set Angular Damping to 0.9
• On the Physics Body component click Add Constraint Object
  • Select the Constraint child and in the Inspector set:
    • Target: Sphere2 : Physics Body
    • Constraint Type: Point

How It Works

• All 3 spheres float in zero gravity by default
• Grabbing Sphere1 activates real gravity so the chain dangles and swings naturally
• The Point constraints act like real chain links
• This same pattern works for any multi-part object: a character, a mobile, a wind chime, or a product with hanging tags.

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Part 3 | Snap and Assemble

Unlike Part 2 where the chain is pre-built and connected using physics constraints, this part lets you assemble the chain yourself inside the experience by dragging objects close together until they snap. Think of it like a puzzle, you connect the pieces to build the chain.

The key difference from Part 2 is that this version uses a spring simulation script instead of physics constraints, so the chain will follow and lag behind as you move it but will not swing freely like a pendulum. If you want full physics swinging,

Scene Setup

Start by making an empty scene object called 'Snap and Assemble', and add the following objects within this object to keep things organized

Step 1 | Create your three objects

• Drag 3 spheres into your Scene Object
• Name them Sphere1, Sphere2, Sphere3
• Position them apart from each other in the scene vertically, leave a gap between them, you will snap them together manually inside the experience

Step 2 | Add scripts from the Github Repository

• Create a new script called SnapObject and paste in the SnapObject script from the Scripts folder in this repo
• Create a new script called ChainLink and paste in the ChainLink script

Step 3 | Set up Sphere1 (top, the one you grab)

• Click Add Component → Physics Body
  • Uncheck Dynamic
• Click Add Component → Interactable
• Click Add Component → InteractableManipulation
• Click Add Component → InteractableOutlineFeedback
  • Add Sphere 1's Render Mesh Visual to the Mesh Visuals list
• Click Add Component → SnapObject
  • Add the 3 sphere meshes as values

Step 4 | Set up Sphere 2 (middle)

• Click Add Component → Physics Body
  • Uncheck Dynamic
• Click Add Component → Interactable
• Click Add Component → InteractableOutlineFeedback
  • Add Sphere 2's Render Mesh Visual to the Mesh Visuals list
• Copy the SnapObjectfrom Sphere 1 and paste it here
• Click Add Component → ChainLink

Step 5 | Set up Sphere3 (bottom)

• same as sphere 2, except ensure Sphere 3's Render Mesh Visual is assigned to InteractableOutlineFeedback|

How to Use

• Refresh your experience
• When the experience starts the three spheres will be in air separated
• Grab Sphere3 and drag it close to the bottom of Sphere2 until it snaps
• Grab Sphere2 and drag it close to the bottom of Sphere1 until it snaps
• Grab Sphere1 and all three spheres will move together

How It Works

• SnapObject detects when the top of one sphere gets close enough to the bottom of another and locks them together
• Once snapped, the object is parented to the one above it in the chain
• ChainLink runs a spring simulation so each link lags slightly behind its parent

Want Full Physics Swinging?

If you want the chain to swing freely like a pendulum after assembly, swap out the ChainLink script for Physics Body components and Point constraints as shown in Part 2