Which drag type is primarily associated with rotor-tip vortices?

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Multiple Choice

Which drag type is primarily associated with rotor-tip vortices?

Explanation:
Induced drag is the drag that comes from the production of lift. In a rotor with finite span, each blade tip sheds a vortex and the rotor creates a downward flow through the disk. That swirling motion and downwash take energy from the rotor system, which shows up as an extra drag component—induced drag. The rotor-tip vortices are the main source of this energy loss, especially in hover when induced velocities are largest. Profile drag and parasite/form drag come from the blade’s shape and nonlifting surfaces, not from the lift-induced swirling at the tips.

Induced drag is the drag that comes from the production of lift. In a rotor with finite span, each blade tip sheds a vortex and the rotor creates a downward flow through the disk. That swirling motion and downwash take energy from the rotor system, which shows up as an extra drag component—induced drag. The rotor-tip vortices are the main source of this energy loss, especially in hover when induced velocities are largest. Profile drag and parasite/form drag come from the blade’s shape and nonlifting surfaces, not from the lift-induced swirling at the tips.

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