What is induced drag the result of?

Induced drag is fundamentally linked to the production of lift by the wings. When an aircraft flies, the wings generate lift, which enables the aircraft to rise and maintain altitude. However, this lift generation also leads to the creation of vortices at the wingtips, which is a byproduct of the pressure difference between the upper and lower surfaces of the wing.

As these vortices form, they disrupt the smooth airflow around the wing, causing additional resistance to the aircraft's forward motion. This resistance is what we refer to as induced drag. The more lift that is generated, the stronger these vortices become, resulting in increased induced drag. Therefore, the relationship between lift and induced drag is a direct one, making it clear that induced drag is the result of the production of lift by the wings.

Other factors like the shape, weight, or speed of the aircraft can influence overall drag but do not define induced drag specifically. The shape of the aircraft typically affects profile drag or drag associated with the aircraft's resistance to airflow, while weight plays a role in lift requirements but not directly in the drag caused by lift. Increases in speed are primarily related to a different form of drag known as parasitic drag.