What is a function of fuel baffling in aircraft fuel tanks?

The function of fuel baffling in aircraft fuel tanks is to prevent fuel sloshing and maintain stability. Baffles are structures that divide the fuel tank into compartments, helping to control the movement of fuel within the tank during maneuvers such as acceleration, deceleration, and banking. Without baffling, fuel could shift rapidly from one side of the tank to the other, leading to instability and potentially affecting aircraft handling. By minimizing movement, baffling ensures that the fuel remains more consistently distributed, which aids in maintaining the aircraft's balance and overall stability during flight.

Other concepts such as increasing fuel capacity or facilitating fuel flow relate to the design of the tank itself but are not direct functions of the baffling system. Decreasing fuel pressure is also not relevant to the function of baffling, which is primarily about controlling the physical movement of the fuel rather than its pressure dynamics.