Why does a lighter aircraft descend quicker than a heavier aircraft?

A lighter aircraft descends quicker than a heavier aircraft because it experiences less drag due to its lower weight. Drag is a force that opposes an aircraft's motion through the air, and it is influenced by factors such as the aircraft's speed, surface area, and shape. When an aircraft is lighter, it generates less lift, requiring it to descend at a steeper angle to maintain flight. This results in a quicker descent.

Furthermore, because a lighter aircraft has a higher thrust-to-weight ratio, it can accelerate more efficiently and maintain a higher descent speed while managing aerodynamic forces effectively. Thus, the relationship between weight, speed, and drag plays a crucial role in how quickly an aircraft descends.

Other options may reference aspects of descent dynamics, but they do not directly capture the primary reason behind the quicker descent of a lighter aircraft, which fundamentally relates to the interplay of weight and aerodynamic forces.