Ground effect increases lift and decreases induced drag. Which statement best describes this relationship?

Study for the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Ground effect increases lift and decreases induced drag. Which statement best describes this relationship?

Explanation:
Ground effect occurs when the wing is close to the surface, and the nearby ground disrupts the wingtip vortices and downwash. This interference makes the wing more efficient: less energy is lost to downwash, so induced drag decreases. At the same time, the wing can generate more lift for a given angle of attack and airspeed, or achieve the same lift with a smaller angle of attack. So near the ground, lift increases while induced drag decreases, which matches the described relationship.

Ground effect occurs when the wing is close to the surface, and the nearby ground disrupts the wingtip vortices and downwash. This interference makes the wing more efficient: less energy is lost to downwash, so induced drag decreases. At the same time, the wing can generate more lift for a given angle of attack and airspeed, or achieve the same lift with a smaller angle of attack. So near the ground, lift increases while induced drag decreases, which matches the described relationship.

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