Uniform circular motion (UCM) refers to motion at a constant speed in a circular path. For an object to move in UCM, it must experience a net force towards the center of the circle, known as the centripetal force. This force can be provided by tension, normal force, gravity, or friction. To solve a UCM problem, identify the known values such as speed, radius, and mass and use the equations for velocity, centripetal acceleration, and centripetal force to determine the net force required.