diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/CapsuleShape.cpp b/libraries/shared/src/CapsuleShape.cpp
index ab8cbdae3d..12ab6ba479 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/CapsuleShape.cpp
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/CapsuleShape.cpp
@@ -18,9 +18,6 @@
 #include "SharedUtil.h" 
 
 
-// default axis of CapsuleShape is Y-axis
-const glm::vec3 localAxis(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f);
-
 CapsuleShape::CapsuleShape() : Shape(Shape::CAPSULE_SHAPE), _radius(0.0f), _halfHeight(0.0f) {}
 
 CapsuleShape::CapsuleShape(float radius, float halfHeight) : Shape(Shape::CAPSULE_SHAPE),
@@ -50,7 +47,7 @@ void CapsuleShape::getEndPoint(glm::vec3& endPoint) const {
 
 void CapsuleShape::computeNormalizedAxis(glm::vec3& axis) const {
     // default axis of a capsule is along the yAxis
-    axis = _rotation * glm::vec3(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f);
+    axis = _rotation * DEFAULT_CAPSULE_AXIS;
 }
 
 void CapsuleShape::setRadius(float radius) {
@@ -76,12 +73,7 @@ void CapsuleShape::setEndPoints(const glm::vec3& startPoint, const glm::vec3& en
     if (height > EPSILON) {
         _halfHeight = 0.5f * height;
         axis /= height;
-        glm::vec3 yAxis(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f);
-        float angle = glm::angle(axis, yAxis);
-        if (angle > EPSILON) {
-            axis = glm::normalize(glm::cross(yAxis, axis));
-            _rotation = glm::angleAxis(angle, axis);
-        }
+        computeNewRotation(axis);
     }
     updateBoundingRadius();
 }
@@ -94,3 +86,13 @@ bool CapsuleShape::findRayIntersection(const glm::vec3& rayStart, const glm::vec
         // TODO: implement the raycast to return inside surface intersection for the internal rayStart.
         return findRayCapsuleIntersection(rayStart, rayDirection, capsuleStart, capsuleEnd, _radius, distance);
 }
+
+// static
+glm::quat CapsuleShape::computeNewRotation(const glm::vec3& newAxis) {
+    float angle = glm::angle(newAxis, DEFAULT_CAPSULE_AXIS);
+    if (angle > EPSILON) {
+        glm::vec3 rotationAxis = glm::normalize(glm::cross(DEFAULT_CAPSULE_AXIS, newAxis));
+        return glm::angleAxis(angle, rotationAxis);
+    }
+    return glm::quat();
+}
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/CapsuleShape.h b/libraries/shared/src/CapsuleShape.h
index 41474e3e38..e97a6a4917 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/CapsuleShape.h
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/CapsuleShape.h
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
 #include "Shape.h"
 
 // default axis of CapsuleShape is Y-axis
+const glm::vec3 DEFAULT_CAPSULE_AXIS(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f);
+
 
 class CapsuleShape : public Shape {
 public:
@@ -26,7 +28,7 @@ public:
     virtual ~CapsuleShape() {}
 
     float getRadius() const { return _radius; }
-    float getHalfHeight() const { return _halfHeight; }
+    virtual float getHalfHeight() const { return _halfHeight; }
 
     /// \param[out] startPoint is the center of start cap
     virtual void getStartPoint(glm::vec3& startPoint) const;
@@ -47,6 +49,7 @@ public:
 
 protected:
     virtual void updateBoundingRadius() { _boundingRadius = _radius + getHalfHeight(); }
+    static glm::quat computeNewRotation(const glm::vec3& newAxis);
 
     float _radius;
     float _halfHeight;
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/Shape.h b/libraries/shared/src/Shape.h
index dae1114992..0a03ae18e3 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/Shape.h
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/Shape.h
@@ -31,18 +31,17 @@ public:
     virtual ~Shape() {}
 
     int getType() const { return _type; }
-    float getBoundingRadius() const { return _boundingRadius; }
-//    const glm::vec3& getPosition() const { return _position; }
-    const glm::quat& getRotation() const { return _rotation; }
-
-//    virtual void setPosition(const glm::vec3& position) { _translation = position; }
-    virtual void setRotation(const glm::quat& rotation) { _rotation = rotation; }
 
     void setEntity(PhysicalEntity* entity) { _owningEntity = entity; }
     PhysicalEntity* getEntity() const { return _owningEntity; }
 
-    virtual void setTranslation(const glm::vec3& center) { _translation = center; }
-    virtual glm::vec3 getTranslation() const { return _translation; }
+    float getBoundingRadius() const { return _boundingRadius; }
+
+    virtual const glm::quat& getRotation() const { return _rotation; }
+    virtual void setRotation(const glm::quat& rotation) { _rotation = rotation; }
+
+    virtual void setTranslation(const glm::vec3& translation) { _translation = translation; }
+    virtual const glm::vec3& getTranslation() const { return _translation; }
 
     virtual bool findRayIntersection(const glm::vec3& rayStart, const glm::vec3& rayDirection, float& distance) const = 0;
 
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/ShapeCollider.cpp b/libraries/shared/src/ShapeCollider.cpp
index 2b672f764d..ffb51660e2 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/ShapeCollider.cpp
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/ShapeCollider.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 namespace ShapeCollider {
 
 bool collideShapes(const Shape* shapeA, const Shape* shapeB, CollisionList& collisions) {
-    // ATM we only have two shape types so we just check every case.
     // TODO: make a fast lookup for correct method
     int typeA = shapeA->getType();
     int typeB = shapeB->getType();
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/VerletCapsuleShape.cpp b/libraries/shared/src/VerletCapsuleShape.cpp
index 9cae13ba2d..b4117e40f7 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/VerletCapsuleShape.cpp
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/VerletCapsuleShape.cpp
@@ -28,6 +28,45 @@ VerletCapsuleShape::VerletCapsuleShape(float radius, glm::vec3* startPoint, glm:
     updateBoundingRadius();
 }
 
+const glm::quat& VerletCapsuleShape::getRotation() const {
+    // NOTE: The "rotation" of this shape must be computed on the fly, 
+    // which makes this method MUCH more more expensive than you might expect.
+    glm::vec3 axis;
+    computeNormalizedAxis(axis);
+    VerletCapsuleShape* thisCapsule = const_cast<VerletCapsuleShape*>(this);
+    thisCapsule->_rotation = computeNewRotation(axis);
+    return _rotation;
+}
+
+void VerletCapsuleShape::setRotation(const glm::quat& rotation) {
+    // NOTE: this method will update the verlet points, which is probably not 
+    // what you want to do.  Only call this method if you know what you're doing.
+
+    // update points such that they have the same center but a different axis
+    glm::vec3 center = getTranslation();
+    float halfHeight = getHalfHeight();
+    glm::vec3 axis = rotation * DEFAULT_CAPSULE_AXIS;
+    *_startPoint = center - halfHeight * axis;
+    *_endPoint = center + halfHeight * axis;
+}
+
+void VerletCapsuleShape::setTranslation(const glm::vec3& position) {
+    // NOTE: this method will update the verlet points, which is probably not 
+    // what you want to do.  Only call this method if you know what you're doing.
+
+    // update the points such that their center is at position
+    glm::vec3 movement = position - getTranslation();
+    *_startPoint += movement;
+    *_endPoint += movement;
+}
+
+const glm::vec3& VerletCapsuleShape::getTranslation() const {
+    // the "translation" of this shape must be computed on the fly
+    VerletCapsuleShape* thisCapsule = const_cast<VerletCapsuleShape*>(this);
+    thisCapsule->_translation = 0.5f * ((*_startPoint) + (*_endPoint));
+    return _translation;
+}
+
 // virtual
 float VerletCapsuleShape::getHalfHeight() const {
     return 0.5f * glm::distance(*_startPoint, *_endPoint);
@@ -57,15 +96,20 @@ void VerletCapsuleShape::computeNormalizedAxis(glm::vec3& axis) const {
 }
 
 // virtual 
-void VerletCapsuleShape::setHalfHeight(float height) {
-    // don't call this method because this is a verlet shape
-    assert(false);
+void VerletCapsuleShape::setHalfHeight(float halfHeight) {
+    // push points along axis so they are 2*halfHeight apart
+    glm::vec3 center = getTranslation();
+    glm::vec3 axis;
+    computeNormalizedAxis(axis);
+    *_startPoint = center - halfHeight * axis;
+    *_endPoint = center + halfHeight * axis;
+    _boundingRadius = _radius + halfHeight;
 }
 
 // virtual 
-void VerletCapsuleShape::setRadiusAndHalfHeight(float radius, float height) {
-    // don't call this method because this is a verlet shape
-    assert(false);
+void VerletCapsuleShape::setRadiusAndHalfHeight(float radius, float halfHeight) {
+    _radius = radius;
+    setHalfHeight(halfHeight);
 }
 
 // virtual
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/VerletCapsuleShape.h b/libraries/shared/src/VerletCapsuleShape.h
index c06b9c7758..b2a7f8be30 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/VerletCapsuleShape.h
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/VerletCapsuleShape.h
@@ -24,8 +24,12 @@ class VerletCapsuleShape : public CapsuleShape {
 public:
     VerletCapsuleShape(glm::vec3* startPoint, glm::vec3* endPoint);
     VerletCapsuleShape(float radius, glm::vec3* startPoint, glm::vec3* endPoint);
-    //VerletCapsuleShape(float radius, float halfHeight, const glm::vec3& position, const glm::quat& rotation);
-    //VerletCapsuleShape(float radius, const glm::vec3& startPoint, const glm::vec3& endPoint);
+
+    // virtual overrides from Shape
+    const glm::quat& getRotation() const;
+    void setRotation(const glm::quat& rotation);
+    void setTranslation(const glm::vec3& position);
+    const glm::vec3& getTranslation() const;
 
     //float getRadius() const { return _radius; }
     virtual float getHalfHeight() const;
@@ -40,14 +44,14 @@ public:
     void computeNormalizedAxis(glm::vec3& axis) const;
 
     //void setRadius(float radius);
-    void setHalfHeight(float height);
-    void setRadiusAndHalfHeight(float radius, float height);
+    void setHalfHeight(float halfHeight);
+    void setRadiusAndHalfHeight(float radius, float halfHeight);
     void setEndPoints(const glm::vec3& startPoint, const glm::vec3& endPoint);
 
     //void assignEndPoints(glm::vec3* startPoint, glm::vec3* endPoint);
 
 protected:
-    // NOTE: VerletCapsuleShape does NOT own its points.
+    // NOTE: VerletCapsuleShape does NOT own the data in its points.
     glm::vec3* _startPoint;
     glm::vec3* _endPoint;
 };
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/VerletSphereShape.cpp b/libraries/shared/src/VerletSphereShape.cpp
index f17184f434..2c659b8159 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/VerletSphereShape.cpp
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/VerletSphereShape.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,6 @@ void VerletSphereShape::setTranslation(const glm::vec3& position) {
 }
 
 // virtual from Shape class
-glm::vec3 VerletSphereShape::getTranslation() {
+const glm::vec3& VerletSphereShape::getTranslation() const {
     return *_point;
 }
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/VerletSphereShape.h b/libraries/shared/src/VerletSphereShape.h
index e6a70e948e..747d02ff7c 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/VerletSphereShape.h
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/VerletSphereShape.h
@@ -15,16 +15,19 @@
 #include "SphereShape.h"
 
 // The VerletSphereShape is similar to a regular SphereShape, except it keeps a pointer
-// to its center which is owned by some other data structure.  This allows it to 
-// participate in a verlet integration engine.
+// to its center which is owned by some other data structure (a verlet simulation system).  
+// This makes it easier for the points to be moved around by constraints in the system
+// as well as collisions with the shape.
+//
 class VerletSphereShape : public SphereShape {
 public:
     VerletSphereShape(glm::vec3* centerPoint);
 
     VerletSphereShape(float radius, glm::vec3* centerPoint);
 
+    // virtual overrides from Shape
     void setTranslation(const glm::vec3& position);
-    glm::vec3 getTranslation();
+    const glm::vec3& getTranslation() const;
 
 protected:
     // NOTE: VerletSphereShape does NOT own its _point
diff --git a/tests/physics/src/ShapeColliderTests.cpp b/tests/physics/src/ShapeColliderTests.cpp
index 4ec823f738..4d3c90b905 100644
--- a/tests/physics/src/ShapeColliderTests.cpp
+++ b/tests/physics/src/ShapeColliderTests.cpp
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ void ShapeColliderTests::capsuleMissesCapsule() {
     float totalHalfLength = totalRadius + halfHeightA + halfHeightB;
 
     CapsuleShape capsuleA(radiusA, halfHeightA);
-    CapsuleShape capsuleB(radiusA, halfHeightA);
+    CapsuleShape capsuleB(radiusB, halfHeightB);
 
     CollisionList collisions(16);
 
diff --git a/tests/physics/src/main.cpp b/tests/physics/src/main.cpp
index ca98f4d546..086bff4dcd 100644
--- a/tests/physics/src/main.cpp
+++ b/tests/physics/src/main.cpp
@@ -9,8 +9,10 @@
 //
 
 #include "ShapeColliderTests.h"
+#include "VerletShapeTests.h"
 
 int main(int argc, char** argv) {
     ShapeColliderTests::runAllTests();
+    VerletShapeTests::runAllTests();
     return 0;
 }