What effect does adverse yaw have on an aircraft during a turn?

Adverse yaw occurs due to differential drag between the wings during a turn. When an aircraft initiates a turn, the aileron on the wing that is rising (the wing that is being dragged upward) deflects downward, while the aileron on the descending wing deflects upward. This design leads to increased lift on the rising wing and an associated increase in drag on that wing.

As a result of this differential drag, the aircraft tends to yaw in the opposite direction of the turn. For instance, if the aircraft is banking to the left, the left wing generates more lift but also more drag with its downward deflected aileron. Consequently, the aircraft’s nose will yaw to the right, opposite the intended direction of the turn. Understanding this phenomenon is crucial for a pilot because it influences how the aircraft is controlled during turns, necessitating coordinated use of the ailerons and rudder to maintain a smooth, balanced turn.