Which wing property is defined as the wingspan divided by the chord length?

• A. Aspect Ratio
• B. Wing Loading
• C. Sweep Angle
• D. Dihedral

Answer: (A)

Aspect ratio describes how slender a wing is. It’s commonly described as wingspan divided by chord length for a simple wing, and more generally as AR = b^2 / S. When the wing has a constant chord, S = b × c, so AR = b^2 / (b × c) = b / c. So the ratio of wingspan to chord length effectively captures how long and narrow the wing is. Higher aspect ratio means longer, thinner wings with lower induced drag and better lift efficiency, while lower aspect ratio corresponds to shorter, stubbier wings with higher induced drag but greater maneuverability. This ratio specifically identifies wing slenderness, unlike sweep angle, dihedral, or wing loading.