Horizontal position after time t with constant horizontal velocity: s_x equals what?

Horizontal position after time t with constant horizontal velocity: s_x equals what?

• A. s_x = v0x t
• B. s_x = v0x / t
• C. s_x = 0
• D. s_x = t

Answer: (A)

When horizontal motion is at a constant velocity, the horizontal displacement grows at a steady rate equal to that velocity. The horizontal position after time t is the velocity multiplied by time: s_x = v0x t (assuming you start measuring from the point where s_x = 0). This comes from integrating velocity over time: s_x = ∫0^t v0x dt = v0x t. The other forms don’t match the units or the relationship between velocity and position. Dividing velocity by time would give a quantity with the wrong units, zero would imply no movement, and t alone would have units of time, not distance.

When horizontal motion is at a constant velocity, the horizontal displacement grows at a steady rate equal to that velocity. The horizontal position after time t is the velocity multiplied by time: s_x = v0x t (assuming you start measuring from the point where s_x = 0). This comes from integrating velocity over time: s_x = ∫0^t v0x dt = v0x t. The other forms don’t match the units or the relationship between velocity and position. Dividing velocity by time would give a quantity with the wrong units, zero would imply no movement, and t alone would have units of time, not distance.