What is a characteristic of induced drag when an aircraft operates at a high angle of attack?

Induced drag is a type of drag that occurs as a byproduct of lift. When an aircraft operates at a high angle of attack, the airflow over the wings becomes more turbulent and less efficient, which leads to an increase in induced drag. This is primarily because a higher angle of attack generates greater lift, but also disturbs the airflow, causing vortices to form at the wingtips. These vortices increase the induced drag because they represent a loss of lift that needs to be overcome by the aircraft's engines.

Moreover, as the angle of attack increases, the lift coefficient also increases, which in turn raises the induced drag due to the formula that relates lift, drag, and angle of attack. Therefore, in high-angle-of-attack situations, the increase in induced drag is significant compared to more level flight conditions, highlighting the relationship between angle of attack and induced drag dynamics in aviation.