What happens to lift as the angle of attack increases?

Lift is generated by the difference in air pressure on the upper and lower surfaces of an airfoil, which is influenced by the angle of attack. As the angle of attack increases, lift increases due to the more aggressive airflow that creates higher pressure differences. This continues up to a certain critical angle, known as the stall angle. Beyond this angle, the airflow can no longer remain attached to the upper surface of the wing, leading to a significant decrease in lift due to flow separation. Thus, the correct understanding is that lift increases initially with an increase in the angle of attack, but when the maximum angle is reached, it begins to decrease sharply. This behavior defines the relationship between angle of attack and lift, emphasizing the importance of managing angle of attack to maintain controlled flight.