Final answer:
The Antarctic continental shelf is defined by large ice shelves like the Ross and Ronne Ice Shelves and surrounded by the deep Southern Ocean, while the Arctic continental shelf has seasonal sea ice and lies beneath a shallower ocean.
Step-by-step explanation:
The physical difference in the continental shelf between the Arctic and Antarctic primarily revolves around the extent and composition of the shelves themselves. The continental shelf area around the Antarctic, for instance, is largely covered by ice shelves, such as the Ross Ice Shelf and the Ronne Ice Shelf. These shelves are extensions of the continent's glaciers and are part of the larger Antarctic ice sheet. The Trans-Antarctic Mountains, including the Ellsworth Mountains with Mount Vinson, further define the continent's physical characteristics. In the Arctic, the continental shelf is not covered by comparable vast ice shelves, but by sea ice that varies with the seasons. Additionally, the Arctic shelf lies beneath a generally shallower ocean compared to the deep Southern Ocean that surrounds Antarctica.