Final answer:
The relative motion between the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate is primarily a result of plate tectonics. The Pacific Plate is moving in a northwest direction, while the North American Plate is moving in a southwest direction. This motion has resulted in the formation of geologic features and phenomena such as the San Andreas Fault and volcanic activity along the coast.
Step-by-step explanation:
The North American Plate and the Pacific Plate are two tectonic plates that interact along their boundary in the western part of North America. The relative motion between these plates is primarily a result of the process known as plate tectonics. The Pacific Plate is moving in a northwest direction, while the North American Plate is moving in a southwest direction.
This motion between the plates has resulted in the formation of various geologic features, such as the San Andreas Fault in California. This fault is a transform boundary where the plates slide past each other horizontally. Additionally, the Pacific Plate is subducting underneath the North American Plate along the western coast, giving rise to volcanic activity and the formation of the Cascade Range.
Overall, the relative motion between the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate is a complex interplay of different types of plate boundaries, including transform and convergent boundaries, leading to various geologic phenomena in the western part of North America.
Learn more about Plate tectonics