Final answer:
The gravitational potential energy of an object changes relative to its reference point, with a camera weighing 10 N having different gravitational potential energies when measured from the ground, the drone, or from a person in a building.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the conservation of mechanical energy principle in Physics. This principle states that when neglecting air resistance and friction, the total mechanical energy (kinetic energy plus gravitational potential energy) of an object in free fall remains constant. Given the example of a camera falling from a drone, the gravitational potential energy can be calculated at different reference points. For scenario (a), where the ground is the reference point for zero potential energy, the camera's gravitational potential energy would be 200 J (10 N weight × 20 m height) before it falls. For scenario (b), if the drone represents the zero potential energy level, then the camera has zero gravitational potential energy before it falls. The energy conversion between kinetic and gravitational potential energy occurs as the camera drops. For scenario (c), using a building 30 m high as the reference point, the camera's gravitational potential energy would be 300 J (10 N × 30 m) before falling, and for scenario (d), it would be 100 J (10 N × 10 m, since it's at ground level now and 20 m below the person) after it lands on the ground.