Let's clarify the situation: A ladybug is moving in a circular path, and its acceleration remains constant while the direction changes. This is a classic example of uniform circular motion.
In uniform circular motion, an object moves at a constant speed around a circular path. Although the speed remains constant, the velocity changes continuously because the direction of motion changes. The change in velocity leads to an acceleration, which is always directed toward the center of the circle.
This acceleration is called **centripetal acceleration** and is given by the formula:
`a_c = v^2 / r`
where `a_c` is the centripetal acceleration, `v` is the constant speed, and `r` is the radius of the circular path.
The centripetal acceleration remains constant because the speed (v) and the radius (r) of the circular path are constant. However, the direction of the centripetal acceleration changes as the ladybug moves around the circle, always pointing toward the center of the circle. This change in direction does not affect the magnitude of the acceleration, which remains constant.