Question

A camera weighing 10 N falls from a small drone hovering 20m overhead and enters free fall. What is the gravitational potential energy change of the camera from the drone to the ground?

a) (a) -196 J (b) -200 J (c) 196 J (d) 200 J
b) (a) -190 J (b) -180 J (c) 190 J (d) 180 J
c) (a) -176 J (b) -170 J (c) 176 J (d) 170 J
d) (a) -160 J (b) -155 J (c) 160 J (d) 155 J

Answer 1

The gravitational potential energy change of the camera from the drone to the ground is 196 J.

Step-by-step explanation:

Gravitational potential energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its position in a gravitational field. It is calculated using the formula PE = mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s² on Earth), and h is the height above the reference point. In this case, the camera weighs 10 N, and it falls from a height of 20 m, so the gravitational potential energy change of the camera from the drone to the ground is PE = 10 N × 9.8 m/s² × 20 m = 1960 J. Since the ground is taken as the reference point of zero gravitational potential energy, the answer is (c) 196 J.