When an object moves along a circular path with a radius of `R` at a constant speed `v`, it experiences a centripetal acceleration.  The magnitude of the centripetal acceleration is given by `\frac{v^2}{R}` and the acceleration always points perpendicular to the object’s velocity towards the center of the circle.  We can use what we know about the acceleration to relate the object’s circular motion to the forces acting on it to keep it moving along a circle with Newton’s second law.