Final answer:
In uniform circular motion, the net force, known as the centripetal force, is always directed towards the center of the circle, in alignment with centripetal acceleration.
Step-by-step explanation:
In uniform circular motion, the net force is always directed towards the center of the circle. This force is known as the centripetal force, which is always directed towards the center of curvature, mirroring the direction of the centripetal acceleration. Based on Newton's second law of motion, the net force is equal to mass times acceleration, or Fnet = m * a. Specifically for circular motion, the acceleration is the centripetal acceleration (ac), leading to the equation for the magnitude of the centripetal force being Fc = m * ac.