Final answer:
An object in uniform circular motion travels on a circular path with constant speed, experiencing centripetal acceleration due to the continuous change in velocity's direction; the centripetal force keeps the object in motion.
Step-by-step explanation:
An object is moving in a uniform circular motion when it travels on a circular path at a constant speed. This type of motion implies that, while the speed is constant, the direction of the object's velocity is continually changing. As a result, the object experiences a continuous change in velocity despite the constant speed, which is known as centripetal acceleration. An instance of this would be a point on a moving merry-go-round or the hands of a clock, which rotate at a uniform speed.
The force responsible for keeping an object in uniform circular motion is called the centripetal force. This force acts towards the center of the circle, enabling the object to follow the curved path. It's crucial to note that even though the object moves at a constant speed, the directional change of velocity means that the object is indeed accelerating towards the center of the circle, which is always perpendicular to the velocity of the object.