Which component of drag is associated with lift production?

Which component of drag is associated with lift production?

• A. Induced Drag
• B. Parasite Drag
• C. Skin Drag
• D. Profile Drag

Answer: (A)

Induced drag is the portion of drag that arises from producing lift. When the rotor or wing generates lift, air is deflected downward and wingtip vortices form. The energy required to create this downward deflection shows up as a drag force opposing forward motion. The amount of induced drag grows with the lift that must be produced (higher angle of attack or heavier load) and is largest at low airspeeds, decreasing as speed increases (while other drag types become more significant). The other drag components—parasite drag like skin friction and form drag—aren’t tied to lift production.

Induced drag is the portion of drag that arises from producing lift. When the rotor or wing generates lift, air is deflected downward and wingtip vortices form. The energy required to create this downward deflection shows up as a drag force opposing forward motion. The amount of induced drag grows with the lift that must be produced (higher angle of attack or heavier load) and is largest at low airspeeds, decreasing as speed increases (while other drag types become more significant). The other drag components—parasite drag like skin friction and form drag—aren’t tied to lift production.