What happens to induced drag as the speed of an airplane increases?

Induced drag is the drag that arises as a byproduct of lift generation. As the speed of an airplane increases, the amount of lift required for level flight decreases relative to the lift generated at lower speeds. This occurs because, at higher speeds, the aircraft can produce the necessary lift with a lower angle of attack, which is when the wings are aligned with the airflow.

As the angle of attack decreases, the amount of induced drag also reduces. This relationship is primarily due to the fact that induced drag is related to the square of the lift coefficient, which is influenced by the angle of attack. Since higher speeds allow for a lower angle of attack while still achieving the necessary lift, it leads to a decrease in induced drag.

Therefore, as speed increases, induced drag decreases, supporting the idea that pilots experience better efficiency at higher speeds where induced drag is minimized.