Final answer:
In uniform circular motion, an object moves in a circular path at a constant speed, experiencing centripetal acceleration due to the continuous change in the direction of velocity.
Step-by-step explanation:
In uniform circular motion, an object travels in a circle with a constant speed. While the speed is constant, the direction of the velocity is continuously changing. This constant change in direction of the velocity vector means the object is actually accelerating, even though the speed (magnitude of velocity) is uniform. This acceleration is directed towards the center of the circle and is known as centripetal acceleration, which arises due to a net external force acting towards the center, known as the centripetal force.
Contrast this with nonuniform circular motion, where a particle may speed up or slow down, demonstrating a tangential acceleration in addition to any centripetal acceleration it may have. However, for the clear case of uniform circular motion, such tangential acceleration is absent.
An example that illustrates uniform circular motion is the movement of carousel horses, which move in a circular path at a constant rate.