title_body: What is a ground loop and how does a common ground reduce video noise? To reduce video noise, it is often recommended to add a common ground between VTX and camera to avoid ground loops. What is a ground loop, how does it add video noise and how can a common ground negate its effects. Thanks.
upvoted_answer: If enough current flows and two ground pads are far enough apart, there might be a voltage difference between them because of the resistance in the PCB:s traces. That's called a ground loop.
  As for why that causes noise; if the camera and the VTX have different reference points, a signal sent from the camera won't be received correctly by the VTX, and since a PAL or NTSC (The types of video that is used for analog FPV systems) signals use less than one volt, even a small in potential can cause video noise that will appear as horizontal bars moving vertically.
  Here is an some more information if you would like to read more about it