Question

Why is uniform circular motion with constant speed called accelerated motion

Answer 1

Answer:

Velocity and acceleration are vectors quantities.

Acceleration = (change in velocity)/ time

Even tho an object is moving with constant speed in uniform circular motion, its velocity vector is always perpendicular to the radius vector between the center of the circle and the moving object.

Thus, the object is undergoing acceleration because the direction of its velocity vector is constantly changing.

It takes a force to produce this acceleration, and this is called the centripetal force and is directed towards the center of the circle.

That is why one can say that the moon is always falling towards the earth or the earth is always falling towards the sun.