# Help applying force in direction of an object

**URL:** <https://forum.defold.com/t/help-applying-force-in-direction-of-an-object/69625>\
**Category:** Questions\
**Created:** [November 4, 2021, 10:59am UTC](https://forum.defold.com/t/help-applying-force-in-direction-of-an-object/69625 "2021-11-04T10:59:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Frankie\_Freeland](https://forum-defold.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.defold.com/frankie_freeland/32/24308_2.png) [@Frankie\_Freeland](https://forum.defold.com/u/Frankie_Freeland)\
**Post date:** [November 4, 2021, 10:59am UTC](https://forum.defold.com/t/help-applying-force-in-direction-of-an-object/69625/1 "2021-11-04T10:59:01Z")

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Hello, I am trying to get a dynamic object to accelerate towards another one (that is moving). What am I doing wrong here?

```lua
local imeda_position = go.get_position('imeda')

if imedadistance <= 800 then
		print('imeda: ', imeda_position)
		msg.post("#collisionobject1", "apply_force", {force = vmath.vector3(1, 1, 1), position = go.get_position('imeda')})
		label.set_text("#spaceship", "imeda")
		else

```

any help would be appreciated thank you

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![britzl](https://forum-defold.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.defold.com/britzl/32/23_2.png) [@britzl](https://forum.defold.com/u/britzl)\
**Post date:** [November 4, 2021, 11:34am UTC](https://forum.defold.com/t/help-applying-force-in-direction-of-an-object/69625/2 "2021-11-04T11:34:32Z")

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> [@Frankie\_Freeland](#):
>
> `msg.post("#collisionobject1", "apply_force", {force = vmath.vector3(1, 1, 1), position = go.get_position('imeda')})`

The force should be a vector pointing in the direction you wish to apply the force. Multiply it by some magnitude. Example:

```lua
-- apply force in direction of game object with id "to"
local from = go.get_position("from")
local to = go.get_position("to")
local direction = vmath.normalize(from - to)
local force = direction * 10000

msg.post("from#collisionobject", "apply_force", { force = force, position = from })

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Frankie\_Freeland](https://forum-defold.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.defold.com/frankie_freeland/32/24308_2.png) [@Frankie\_Freeland](https://forum.defold.com/u/Frankie_Freeland)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2021, 8:23am UTC](https://forum.defold.com/t/help-applying-force-in-direction-of-an-object/69625/3 "2021-11-05T08:23:01Z")

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Thanks a lot, this really helped