What is an advantage of dihedral wings?

Dihedral wings are designed with an upward angle relative to the horizontal plane, which provides an important aerodynamic advantage related to lateral stability. When an aircraft banks or tilts to one side, the dihedral angle increases the lift on the wing that is lower (the one that is tilted down) while decreasing lift on the wing that is higher. This difference in lift helps to create a restoring moment that works to level the wings back to a horizontal position. As a result, aircraft with dihedral wings are inherently more stable in roll, which enhances their ability to maintain steady flight and recover from disturbances. This characteristic is particularly beneficial during flight maneuvers and in turbulent conditions, contributing to overall safety and ease of handling.

The other options, while relevant to various aspects of aircraft performance, do not specifically pertain to the primary function of dihedral wings. Therefore, understanding lateral stability in the context of dihedral wing design is crucial for grasping how these wings contribute to an aircraft's flight characteristics.