Induced drag is primarily associated with which aerodynamic phenomenon?

• A. Induced Drag
• B. Parasitic Drag
• C. Skin Drag
• D. Form Drag

Answer: (A)

Induced drag comes from the way a wing generates lift. When lift is produced, air must be deflected downward, which creates wingtip vortices and a downwash behind the wing. This downwash tilts the overall aerodynamic force so that part of it points rearward, adding a backward component that shows up as drag. The effect grows with the amount of lift required (higher lift coefficient) and is reduced by using a wing with a larger span relative to its area (higher aspect ratio), which weakens the wingtip vortices. Parasitic forms of drag—skin friction, form drag, and other non-lift-related losses—aren’t tied to the lift-producing flow, so they aren’t the primary source of induced drag.