Why is the motion of an athlete moving along the circular path anaccelerated motion?

The motion of an athlete moving along a circular path is considered an accelerated motion due to two main reasons:

1. Change in Velocity: Even if the athlete is moving at a constant speed, the direction of their velocity is constantly changing as they move along the circular path. Velocity is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude (speed) and direction. Therefore, any change in either speed or direction results in a change in velocity. In circular motion, the direction of velocity changes continuously, hence it is an accelerated motion.

2. Centripetal Acceleration: When an object moves in a circular path, it experiences a centripetal acceleration, which is directed towards the center of the circle. This acceleration is responsible for changing the direction of the velocity vector, keeping the object moving in a circle. Even if the speed of the object remains constant, this centripetal acceleration means the object's motion is still considered accelerated.

So, even if the athlete maintains a constant speed while running in a circle, the continuous change in direction means their velocity is changing, and thus they are experiencing acceleration.