Regarding induced drag, which of the following statements are correct or incorrect?

To evaluate the correctness of the chosen answer regarding induced drag, it’s important to understand the characteristics and principles associated with induced drag in aerodynamics.

Induced drag is a consequence of lift generation on the wings of an aircraft. As an aircraft generates lift, the high-pressure air beneath the wing flows around the wing tips to the low-pressure area above the wing, creating vortexes. These vortexes represent a loss of energy and result in drag, which is termed "induced drag."

The assessment of the two statements likely revolves around their definition and implications of induced drag. If the first statement misrepresents a fundamental aspect of induced drag, such as erroneously stating how it varies with changing lift or airspeed, that would make it incorrect. The second statement might correctly describe the relationship between induced drag and lift or clarify factors influencing induced drag.

Given the selection of option A, it indicates that the first statement is indeed incorrect while the second statement is correct. This aligns logically with the fundamental physics of how induced drag functions. A thorough understanding of induced drag’s relationship with lift shows that changes in lift directly influence induced drag—higher lift produces greater induced drag due to stronger vortex formation. Thus, a correct statement would reflect this principle accurately.