How does aircraft speed affect induced drag?

Induced drag is a type of drag that occurs as a result of the generation of lift. It is primarily influenced by the angle of attack and the flight speed of the aircraft. As the aircraft speed increases, the amount of lift produced for a given angle of attack increases, which allows the pilot to fly at a lower angle of attack for the same amount of lift. This reduction in angle of attack leads to a decrease in induced drag.

At high speeds, the airflow around the wings becomes more streamlined, and the lift-to-drag ratio improves, resulting in lower induced drag. This behavior is explained by the principle that induced drag is inversely proportional to the square of the aircraft's speed. In simple terms, as an aircraft goes faster, it needs less lift to maintain its altitude, resulting in reduced induced drag.

The other options incorrectly capture the relationship between speed and induced drag. Induced drag does not increase with speed, remain constant, or become negligible under all conditions at high speeds. In fact, while induced drag may seem less significant compared to other drag types, it doesn't disappear entirely; instead, it decreases in relevance as speed increases. Understanding this relationship is crucial for pilots, particularly during flight planning and performance calculations.