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$\begingroup$ this question is extremely misleading. OP's question has nothing to do with the invariance of the speed of light. "the time it takes to reach the bottom is dependent on how fast the bottom is moving to meet it." This is incorrect. If a ship is moving with any constant velocity in any direction, the time for the photon to reach the bottom will ALWAYS be 1 second $\endgroup$
– Vulgar Mechanick
Commented Feb 14, 2021 at 14:24
$\begingroup$ The expression for ΔV is also incorrect. the ball already has the same velocity as the floor at the point of release. And velocities are relative. What is your "throwing velocity" or "initial velocity of spaceship" relative to? $\endgroup$
– Vulgar Mechanick
Commented Feb 14, 2021 at 14:29
$\begingroup$ From inside the spaceship you won't be able to tell the difference between the first light pulse and the second one assuming constant acceleration. "If a ship is moving with any constant velocity in any direction, the time for the photon to reach the bottom will ALWAYS be 1 second" - from inside the ship yes. From the outside the light moving in the opposite direction of the ship will have to be constant and meet the bottom faster than 1 sec because the bottom is coming to meet it. $\endgroup$
– CookieNinja
Commented Feb 14, 2021 at 14:33
$\begingroup$ ΔV could be 0 (relative to the ship) if you just release the ball but if you were to throw the ball towards the bottom it wouldn't be. $\endgroup$
– CookieNinja
Commented Feb 14, 2021 at 14:36
$\begingroup$ The question is clearly from inside the spaceship. Secondly, the OP's misconception lies in the phyics of non inertial frames. Bringing special relativity into it is wrong and extremely misleading $\endgroup$
– Vulgar Mechanick
Commented Feb 14, 2021 at 14:37

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