Wingtip vortices are swirling masses of air that form at the tips of a wing due to the pressure difference between the upper and lower surfaces. This pressure difference is what generates lift. Higher pressure exists below the wing and lower pressure above. At the wingtip, air tends to flow from the high-pressure area underneath the wingtip to the low-pressure area above it, creating a swirling motion. These vortices are a direct consequence of generating lift with a finite wing. Wingtip vortices significantly impact induced drag, which is a component of drag directly related to the production of lift. Induced drag is created beca....
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