What is meant by "aerodynamic stall"?

Aerodynamic stall refers specifically to the condition where the airflow over the wing of an aircraft separates from the wing's upper surface, leading to a significant loss of lift. This phenomenon occurs when the angle of attack—the angle between the wing's chord line and the oncoming airflow—exceeds a certain critical value. When this critical angle is surpassed, the smooth airflow is disrupted, resulting in turbulence, and the wing can no longer generate sufficient lift to maintain flight.

Understanding how aerodynamic stall works is crucial for pilots, as it highlights the importance of managing the angle of attack during flight. Although the other options touch on aspects of flight dynamics, they do not accurately define aerodynamic stall in the context of lift loss due to airflow separation. For example, while increased drag on the wing can occur during a stall, it is a secondary effect, not the defining characteristic of the stall itself. Similarly, a loss of engine power or a rapid descent of the aircraft could be related to other flight issues but do not specifically describe the aerodynamic stall phenomenon.