What type of drag does a wingtip vortex contribute to?

A wingtip vortex contributes to induced drag, which is a key component of aerodynamic drag that occurs due to the generation of lift. When an aircraft generates lift, particularly through its wings, high-pressure air from beneath the wing spills over to the low-pressure area above the wing at the wingtips, creating a swirling vortex. This vortex increases the overall drag on the aircraft by altering the airflow around the wings and leading to a loss of lift. Induced drag is particularly significant at lower airspeeds and higher angles of attack, where the generation of lift is maximized and the strength of the wingtip vortices increases.

The other types of drag mentioned focus on different aspects of aerodynamics. Parasite drag generally refers to drag that does not result from the lift generated and can be due to form drag and skin friction drag. Form drag pertains to the shape of the object as it moves through the air, while skin friction drag is associated with the friction created by the airflow over the surface of the aircraft. However, these types of drag do not directly relate to the creation of lift and the resulting wingtip vortices like induced drag does.