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High aspect ratio, as compared with low aspect ratio, has the effect of:
  • A
    increasing lift and drag.
  • B
    increasing lift and critical angle of attack.
  • C
    increasing induced drag and decreasing critical angle of attack.
  • D
    decreasing induced drag and critical angle of attack.

Refer to figure.
The aspect ratio of a wing is defined as being the proportion of the span and the average chord. In other words AR = b/c. “b” being the wingspan, and “c” being the chord. Gliders, with very large wingspans and small chords, have a very high aspect ratio, whilst jets, with very small wingspans with relation to their large chord, have a very low aspect ratio.

Firstly, the higher the aspect ratio of a wing, the lower the induced drag. This is the main reason why gliders fly so efficiently.

Secondly, as you can see in the figure, a higher aspect ratio means a smaller range of usable angles of attack, and also consequently a smaller critical angle of attack.

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