Which factor contributes to lateral stability in an aircraft?

The design of the wings and the aircraft's dihedral angle plays a critical role in enhancing lateral stability. The dihedral angle, which refers to the upward angle of the wings with respect to the horizontal plane, allows the aircraft to return to a level flight attitude if it experiences a lateral disturbance, such as turbulence or a rolling motion. When one wing drops, the dihedral angle creates a difference in lift that naturally corrects the roll by increasing lift on the higher wing while decreasing it on the lower wing, promoting stability.

In addition to the wings, the overall aerodynamic shape and positioning also contribute to the aircraft's ability to maintain steady flight without excessive control inputs. This interaction between wing design and the dihedral effect is fundamental in achieving inherent lateral stability during flight.

Understanding that factors like fuselage shape may influence other aspects of an aircraft's performance but do not directly contribute to lateral stability helps highlight why other choices are less relevant to this specific question. While weight distribution and the size of the vertical stabilizer are important in overall aircraft handling and control, they are not specifically focused on lateral stability as effectively as wing design and dihedral angle are.