hello 
I don’t know when to use them under what environment. Here is a sentence: Threrefore, the runway component also encompass the common approach and departure paths to and from the runways. Can I change the encompass here with contain and involve? what kind of differences when you use them?
thank you so much
Hi
Involve would be slightly inappropriate here. As it is more for the participation in an event, situation, relationship or activity.
Contain could be used, but still sounds awkward somehow, even though it can be used for something that is made up of other elements as in your example.
I would reserve contain in similar contexts for smaller objects, or for a company not a physical area as here.
In my honest opinion you have chosen the most appropriate word as encompasses means includes all.
Encompass in this case is closer in meaning to “include”