Which physical factors are involved in the aspect ratio of airplane wings?

The aspect ratio of airplane wings is defined as the ratio of the wingspan to the average chord length. Therefore, the physical factors involved in determining the aspect ratio are indeed the span, which is the distance from tip to tip of the wing, and the chord, which is the width of the wing from leading edge to trailing edge. A higher aspect ratio generally indicates a longer wingspan relative to the chord, which can influence the aerodynamic properties of the wing, including lift and drag characteristics.

In contrast, while wing surface area and loading, taper ratio and sweep angle, as well as stability and control surfaces are relevant to various aspects of wing performance and aircraft dynamics, they do not directly define the aspect ratio. Wing surface area is related to overall lift and performance but is a separate consideration from the aspect ratio itself. Taper ratio and sweep angle affect the aerodynamic efficiency and structural performance but do not serve as determinants of the aspect ratio. Stability and control surfaces are critical to aircraft handling qualities but again are not connected to how the aspect ratio is calculated.