At the San Andreas fault, the Pacific Plate is moving northwest relative to the southeast moving North American Plate. Therefore, movement along the San Andreas is:
A) compressional
B) tensional
C) right-lateral
D) left-lateral
E) vertical

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The San Andreas Fault is a transform fault where the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate slide past each other horizontally. The movement is right-lateral because, as you stand on the North American Plate and look towards the Pacific Plate, it moves to the right.

At the San Andreas Fault, the Pacific Plate Is Moving