Induced drag is caused by which aerodynamic effect?

Induced drag is caused by which aerodynamic effect?

• A. Drag due to skin friction
• B. Engine thrust
• C. Weight of the aircraft
• D. The production of lift

Answer: (D)

Induced drag comes from the lift-producing process itself. To generate lift, the wing must turn the airflow downward and create wingtip vortices. That downward deflection of air creates a reaction force on the wing with a backward component relative to the flight path, which shows up as drag. The amount of induced drag increases as more lift is required (for example, at lower speeds or higher angle of attack), because more downward deflection and stronger vortices are produced. In contrast, drag due to skin friction is parasite drag from the clothing of the air against the aircraft surface, engine thrust is the forward force from propulsion, and the weight of the aircraft is the gravitational load the wings must support—not a direct result of lift creation. So the lift generation itself is what causes induced drag.

Induced drag comes from the lift-producing process itself. To generate lift, the wing must turn the airflow downward and create wingtip vortices. That downward deflection of air creates a reaction force on the wing with a backward component relative to the flight path, which shows up as drag. The amount of induced drag increases as more lift is required (for example, at lower speeds or higher angle of attack), because more downward deflection and stronger vortices are produced.

In contrast, drag due to skin friction is parasite drag from the clothing of the air against the aircraft surface, engine thrust is the forward force from propulsion, and the weight of the aircraft is the gravitational load the wings must support—not a direct result of lift creation. So the lift generation itself is what causes induced drag.