Final answer:
In uniform circular motion, force and acceleration are directed toward the center of the circle, known as centripetal force and centripetal acceleration, respectively. Newton's second law provides the formula Fc = mac for calculating the magnitude of this centripetal force.
Step-by-step explanation:
In uniform circular motion, both force and acceleration are directed D) toward the center of the circle. This force is known as a centripetal force, which is always directed towards the center of curvature and is responsible for the centripetal acceleration of the object moving in a circular path. According to Newton's second law of motion (Fnet = ma), the net force that causes centripetal acceleration (a = ac) is the product of mass and acceleration, hence the magnitude of centripetal force (Fc) is calculated as Fc = mac. The term centripetal comes from Latin, meaning 'center seeking', which aptly describes the direction of both the force and acceleration during uniform circular motion, towards the center. An object in uniform circular motion moves at a constant speed, but its velocity is constantly changing direction due to this centripetal force, maintaining the object's circular path. In uniform circular motion, an object moves in a circular path at a constant speed. For an object to move in a circle, there must be a centripetal force acting on it. This force is directed toward the center of the circle, causing the necessary acceleration to keep the object in its circular path. The centripetal force and the resulting acceleration are always directed radially inward, pointing toward the center of the circle.