In flight theory, what happens to parasite drag when an airplane's airspeed is doubled while in level flight?

Parasite drag is a type of aerodynamic drag that increases with the square of the aircraft's speed. This means that when the speed of the airplane is doubled, the parasite drag doesn't just double; instead, it increases by a factor of four. This relationship is expressed mathematically, where parasite drag (D) is proportional to the square of the airspeed (V): D ∝ V². Therefore, if the airspeed is doubled, you take the original drag and multiply it by four (since 2² = 4), resulting in parasite drag becoming four times greater.

Understanding this concept is crucial for pilots and aerodynamics engineers alike, as it directly affects fuel efficiency, climb rates, and overall aircraft performance during different phases of flight. The other options reflect either a misunderstanding of the relationship between speed and drag or suggest an inaccurate constant nature of drag which doesn't apply in this scenario.