What is primarily controlled by the use of differential ailerons?

The use of differential ailerons primarily controls adverse yaw. Adverse yaw is a phenomenon that occurs when an aircraft rolls. As one wing is raised and the opposite wing is lowered, the raised wing generates more lift, which also causes it to experience increased drag due to induced drag. This drag discrepancy causes the aircraft to yaw in the opposite direction of the intended roll, which can hinder the pilot's control during maneuvers.

Differential ailerons are designed so that one aileron moves more than the other. When the pilot requires a roll to the right, for instance, the right aileron will deflect upwards to reduce lift (and thus drag) on the right wing while the left aileron deflects downwards to increase lift (and drag) on the left wing. This design allows for a more coordinated turn by counteracting adverse yaw, leading to smoother and more effective control during the rolling motion of the aircraft.

Lateral control, while an important aspect of flight dynamics involving how the aircraft maintains level flight, refers more broadly to the overall ability to control the roll of the aircraft, not specifically addressing the adverse yaw that can result from using ailerons without differential designs. Yaw instability and directional stability are