What is true regarding centripetal acceleration in uniform circular motion?

In uniform circular motion, the centripetal acceleration is indeed directed radially inward. This inward direction is crucial as it reflects the nature of the force acting on an object moving in a circular path. Specifically, centripetal acceleration constantly changes the direction of the velocity vector of the object, allowing it to maintain a circular trajectory without changing its speed.

The radial inward direction of centripetal acceleration is a consequence of the need for an object to continuously change its direction to stay in circular motion, while its speed remains constant. This inward force is provided by some form of centripetal force, such as tension, gravity, or friction, depending on the particular scenario.

In contrast, the other statements refer to directions and scenarios that do not accurately represent the characteristics of centripetal acceleration in uniform circular motion. For example, an outward direction would imply that the object is being pushed away from the center of the circle, which is not the case in uniform circular motion where the motion is maintained by inward force. Similarly, tangential acceleration would be relevant if the object's speed were changing, which contradicts the definition of uniform motion. Lastly, zero acceleration would suggest that the object is not undergoing any change in motion, which again is not applicable in circular