How do inertia and centripetal force combine to keep an object moving in circular motion?

Inertia is an object's tendency to keep moving in a straight line, so the object continues moving forward along the tangent to its circular path. Centripetal force points toward the center of the circle and continually changes the direction of that motion. Therefore, centripetal force acts inward while inertia keeps the object moving forward, as described by choice D.

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