What is the term for acceleration directed towards the center of a circle?

Centripetal acceleration refers specifically to the acceleration that points towards the center of a circular path. When an object moves in a circle at constant speed, it is continuously changing direction, which means it is experiencing acceleration, even if its speed remains constant. This inward acceleration is crucial for maintaining circular motion, as it serves to change the direction of the object's velocity vector, keeping it along the curved path.

Linear acceleration refers to a change in the speed of an object moving along a straight path, not relevant in circular motion. Angular acceleration pertains to the change in rotational velocity over time, typically associated with the spinning or rotating motion of an object. Tangential acceleration indicates the rate of change of speed along the circular path, which is different from the directionality of centripetal acceleration that acts perpendicular to this motion.

Understanding centripetal acceleration is fundamental in physics as it illustrates the forces at play in circular motion, including gravitational and tension forces that can act towards the center of the circle, providing the necessary acceleration for objects in circular trajectories.