Which statement correctly describes the drag categories?

• A. Induced drag and parasite drag
• B. Form drag and interference drag
• C. Skin friction drag and form drag
• D. Lift and weight

Answer: (A)

Drag in flight comes in two broad categories: induced drag and parasite drag. Induced drag is a byproduct of generating lift—the wing’s circulation creates wingtip vortices, and energy is lost as these vortices form. This type of drag tends to decrease as airspeed increases (since the lift required for steady flight at higher speeds is lower per unit of speed). Parasite drag encompasses all drag not directly tied to generating lift and includes form drag (shape-related pressure differences), skin friction drag (viscous shear on the aircraft’s surface), and interference drag (unwanted interactions where components meet).

That makes the statement pairing induced drag with parasite drag the correct description of the primary drag categories. The other options describe subtypes of parasite drag or forces that aren’t drag at all (like lift and weight).