During the takeoff roll, how does thrust compare to drag prior to lift-off?

During the takeoff roll, thrust must be more than drag to enable the aircraft to accelerate down the runway and achieve the necessary speed for lift-off. When the aircraft starts moving, it experiences drag due to air resistance acting against its forward motion. To overcome this drag and successfully increase speed, the engines produce thrust.

If thrust were less than or equal to drag, the airplane would not be able to accelerate, and it would either remain stationary or not gain sufficient speed to become airborne. Adequate thrust ensuring it is greater than drag is essential for the aircraft to reach the required velocity for takeoff. This dynamic is crucial for flight operations, demonstrating how thrust must exceed the opposing forces to achieve successful takeoff.