What is created behind the wingtip as a result of air movement from high to low pressure?

The phenomenon created behind the wingtip due to the movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure is known as a vortex. When an aircraft is in flight, the pressure differential between the upper and lower surfaces of the wing results in the air spilling over the wingtip. This creates a rotating column of air known as a vortex, which typically trails behind and to the side of the wingtip.

Vortices are significant in aerodynamics because they can affect the performance of other aircraft flying behind, as well as contribute to overall drag. Understanding how vortices are formed and their impact on flight is crucial for aircraft design and operation, especially in terms of spacing during takeoffs and landings to mitigate wake turbulence.

The other concepts—wave, draft, and swirl—represent different phenomena. While there can be waves associated with airflow (like shock waves in supersonic flight), they do not directly relate to the pressure difference created at the wingtip. A draft refers more generally to a current of moving air, and swirl implies a more chaotic or spiral movement, which is not the specific behavior observed at the wingtip due to the pressure interaction. Thus, vortex is the most accurate term to describe the air behavior in this