In the physical geography of the Earth, which ocean is recognised as both the largest and the deepest among all the world oceans?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests basic world geography. Knowing the relative sizes and depths of the major oceans is a common requirement for school geography and competitive exams. The focus here is on identifying which ocean is both the largest in area and the deepest in average and maximum depth.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The four options are Arctic, Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.
• The question asks for an ocean that is both largest and deepest.
• We assume standard modern measurements of ocean area and depth.
• Largest refers to surface area and deepest refers to greatest recorded depth.

Concept / Approach:
The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean, covering more area than the Atlantic and Indian oceans combined. It is also the deepest, as it contains the Mariana Trench, where the Challenger Deep is located, one of the deepest known points in the Earth's oceans. The Atlantic and Indian oceans are large but smaller and shallower than the Pacific, while the Arctic Ocean is the smallest and relatively shallow.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Pacific Ocean stretches from Asia and Australia in the west to the Americas in the east, covering vast area. Step 2: Remember that geography textbooks describe the Pacific as the world's largest ocean by surface area. Step 3: Note that the Mariana Trench, located in the Pacific, contains the deepest known point in any ocean. Step 4: Compare this with the Atlantic and Indian oceans, which are large but smaller in both area and maximum depth. Step 5: Exclude the Arctic Ocean, which is the smallest and one of the shallowest among the world's oceans.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard atlases and geography references state that the Pacific Ocean covers roughly one-third of the Earth's surface and is larger than all of the land areas combined. They also list the Mariana Trench, within the Pacific, as having the deepest recorded depth. These facts confirm that the Pacific is both the largest and deepest ocean.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Arctic: It is the smallest and among the shallowest oceans, located around the North Pole, and therefore cannot be the largest or deepest.

Atlantic: It is the second-largest ocean but still smaller and less deep than the Pacific.

Indian: Larger than the Arctic but smaller than the Atlantic and Pacific, with depths that do not exceed those of the Pacific.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse the Atlantic with the Pacific because many major trade routes and historical voyages involve the Atlantic. Another error is simply guessing without recalling the specific superlatives. Remembering that the Pacific is both the largest and deepest helps secure quick marks in such questions.

Final Answer:
The largest and deepest ocean on Earth is the Pacific Ocean.