What type of drag is caused by the shape of an aircraft component?

Form drag is a type of drag that arises primarily due to the shape and design of an aircraft component as it moves through the air. It is often associated with the pressure differential that occurs around the surface of an object due to its shape. For instance, streamlined shapes tend to have less form drag compared to blunt or irregular shapes, which can lead to greater pressure disturbances and increased resistance against airflow.

Form drag is significant because it can greatly influence an aircraft's aerodynamic efficiency. By optimizing the shape of various components, such as wings, fuselage, and control surfaces, engineers can effectively reduce form drag, which ultimately enhances the overall performance and fuel efficiency of the aircraft.

In contrast, other types of drag such as interference drag results from the interaction between the flows around different components of the aircraft, skin friction drag is associated with the friction of air moving over the surface, and induced drag is related to the generation of lift and is dependent on the angle of attack. Each of these factors contributes to the total drag on an aircraft, but form drag is specifically linked to the geometric configuration of individual components.