Plain English Meaning

A spinning propeller and engine create forces that try to pull the airplane to the left, especially during takeoff and climb. The pilot pushes the right rudder pedal to keep the airplane straight.

Full Definition

The collective term for four left-turning forces produced by a single-engine, propeller-driven airplane: torque reaction, spiraling slipstream, gyroscopic precession, and P-factor (asymmetric propeller loading). Each force arises from the rotation of the propeller and engine, and together they cause the airplane to yaw or roll to the left, particularly at high , , and high . Pilots counteract these forces primarily with right rudder.