If the elevator is raised, what happens to the airplane?

When the elevator on an airplane is raised, it causes the aircraft’s tail to move downward. This change in the position of the elevator alters the airflow over the horizontal stabilizer, creating an increase in lift on the tail and a corresponding decrease in lift on the wings. Consequently, the aircraft's nose is pitched upward, resulting in a climb. This relationship between elevator position and aircraft attitude is essential for pilots to understand, as controlling the elevator is a primary means of managing an aircraft's altitude during flight.

Understanding the mechanics of elevator control emphasizes the importance of coordinated movements in flight. While the other options describe possible aircraft reactions, they do not align with the correct aerodynamic effects produced by raising the elevator. The act of pitching the nose up directly relates to climbing, reinforcing the connection between control surfaces and flight behavior.