Which component of the aircraft wing controls the rolling motion?

The aileron is the component of the aircraft wing specifically designed to control the rolling motion of the aircraft. When a pilot wants to initiate a roll to the left or right, they adjust the ailerons, which are located at the trailing edge of each wing. By deflecting one aileron upward and the other downward, the lift on each wing is altered, resulting in a rolling motion around the aircraft’s longitudinal axis. This mechanism allows for more precise control during turns and maneuvers.

Flaps, found on the wings, primarily increase lift during takeoff and landing rather than controlling roll. Elevators, located on the horizontal stabilizer at the tail of the plane, control pitch, or the up-and-down motion of the nose. The rudder, situated on the vertical stabilizer, is responsible for controlling yaw, or the left-right motion of the aircraft. Each of these components plays a crucial role in flight dynamics, but the ailerons are the only ones tasked with managing rolling motion specifically.