Final answer:
The position of mass i as a function of time can be expressed as x1(t) = 4.0 + 2.0t m.
Step-by-step explanation:
The position of mass i as a function of time can be expressed as x1(t) = 4.0 + 2.0t m. This equation represents the position of the particle as it moves along the x-axis. The constant term 4.0 represents the initial position of the particle at t=0 seconds, and the term 2.0t represents the displacement of the particle as time increases.