As the angle of attack increases, what happens to drag?

As the angle of attack increases, drag behaves in a specific manner due to the changing airflow characteristics over the wing. Initially, as the angle of attack rises, the aerodynamic forces acting on the wing also change; lift increases, and drag begins to increase as well. This is primarily due to an increase in induced drag, which is associated with the generation of lift.

Up to the stalling angle, the increase in lift is more pronounced than the increase in drag, although drag still rises gradually. The dynamics at play include changes in the pressure distribution over the airfoil and the creation of vortices, which contribute to increased drag.

Once the angle of attack approaches and exceeds the stalling angle, the wing approaches its critical angle, where airflow can no longer remain attached to the wing surface, leading to a significant increase in drag. However, up until the stalling angle is reached, drag does indeed increase, but the relationship is not linear; it is more complex, relating to how the airflow interacts with the wing.

This understanding is crucial for pilots and aerodynamics engineers when considering the performance of an aircraft, as managing the angle of attack is key to optimizing both lift and drag.