What is Drag?

What is Drag?

• A. The forward force of the aircraft
• B. The force that pulls the plane backward and opposes thrust
• C. The lift component that increases altitude
• D. The weight component during descent

Answer: (B)

Drag is the resistive force that acts opposite to the aircraft’s motion through the air. It tends to pull the plane backward, so the engine’s thrust must overcome it to keep moving or speed up. This is why drag is described as opposing thrust. It’s not the forward thrust, it’s the backward force slowing the aircraft down. Lift raises the aircraft or increases altitude, and weight acts downward due to gravity, so they’re not drag.

Drag is the resistive force that acts opposite to the aircraft’s motion through the air. It tends to pull the plane backward, so the engine’s thrust must overcome it to keep moving or speed up. This is why drag is described as opposing thrust. It’s not the forward thrust, it’s the backward force slowing the aircraft down. Lift raises the aircraft or increases altitude, and weight acts downward due to gravity, so they’re not drag.