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I have to answer this question for a class: are the hands of a clock accelerating?  Physics is not my strong suit.  Google is letting me down.   I am looking for an answer I can understand as a college educated professional, but also something I could offer to a younger student, say 4th-5th grade, because my son is now invested in finding this answer as well. Thanks in advance for your assistance! Jenn

Exactly, a change in direction requires acceleration, even if the speed remains the same. Another way to think about it is acceleration implies a "push" (or "pull") and things like clock hands or satellites or the moon cannot go around without some kind of push or pull (=gravity, in the case of satellites or the moon. In the clock, the push is a twist from the motor inside)