Final answer:
The characteristic of flight when a drone rotates its nose without changing its position is known as yaw. It is controlled by mechanisms designed to counteract the effects of conservation of angular momentum based on Newton's third law.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a drone rotates its nose in the air without changing its position relative to the ground, it is demonstrating the characteristic of flight known as yaw. This motion is akin to the action provided by the small rotor on the tail of a helicopter, which is essential to control the drone's orientation and to counteract the rotation induced by conservation of angular momentum due to the main lift blades. According to Newton's third law, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
In the context of a helicopter or drone, when the blades spin in one direction, the body of the aircraft will try to rotate in the opposite direction. The tail rotor or similar stabilization methods provide thrust to counterbalance these forces, allowing the aircraft to maintain a stable orientation or to intentionally rotate around its vertical axis without moving position in the horizontal plane.