Which statement is true regarding drag types in flight?

• A. Induced Drag Increases with Speed
• B. Parasite Drag Decreases with Airspeed
• C. Parasite Drag Increases with Airspeed
• D. Induced Drag Decreases with Speed

Answer: (C)

Drag has two main components that respond oppositely to airspeed: induced drag and parasite drag. Induced drag comes from the wing lifting the aircraft and is largest at low speed; as you speed up, you fly with less angle of attack and downwash, so induced drag decreases. Parasite drag, by contrast, comes from all the flow that just resists movement over the surface—form drag from pressure differences, skin friction from viscous effects, and interference drag at junctions. This type grows with speed because it scales with dynamic pressure (roughly with V^2) and the increased momentum transfer to the air as you go faster. So parasite drag increases with airspeed, which is why the statement is true. The related behavior you should remember is that induced drag decreases with speed, reinforcing how the total drag curve shifts with speed.