Human Population Growth
Web Quest
Read the information provided & follow the links to answer the questions on your own paper.
“Unlike plagues of the dark ages or contemporary diseases we do not understand, the modern plague of overpopulation is soluble by means we have discovered and with resources we posses. What is lacking is not sufficient knowledge of the solution but universal consciousness of the gravity of the problem and the education of the billions who are its victim.” --Martin Luther King, Jr.
Worries about human population growth are not new phenomena. A little over 200 years ago, Thomas Malthus published An Essay on the Principle of Population. He identified the fact that the human population expansion was outpacing the production of food.
In 1804 the human population of Earth reached 1 billion, it topped 2 billion by 1927, 3 billion by 1959, 4 billion in 1972 & 5 billion by the late 1980s. On October 12, 1999, the human population of Earth reached 6 billion.
Prior to 1950, the death rate was high, which kept the numbers of humans from increasing rapidly. In the 19th Century, the agricultural revolution increased food production and the industrial revolution improved methods of transporting food and other goods. The 20th Century produced advances in medicine, sanitation, and nutrition.
Follow this link: http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html
1. What is the exact time right now?
2. What is the U.S. population right now?
Follow this link: http://www.demographia.com/db-2000stater.htm
3. Where is Alabama ranked among state populations?
4. What percent of people in the U.S. live in Alabama?
Follow this link: http://desip.igc.org/mapanim.html
5. Where in the world did the human population appear to start?
6. What was the world population in 1985?
7. What is the expected world population in 2020?
“Which is the greater danger—nuclear warfare or the population explosion? The latter obviously! To bring about nuclear war, someone has to DO something; someone has to press a button. To bring about destruction by overcrowding, mass starvation, anarchy, the destruction of our most cherished values—there is no need to do anything. We need only do nothing except what comes naturally—and breed. And how easy it is to do nothing.” –Dr. Isaac Asimov (in this 1966 interview, he predicted the world population would reach 6 billion in the year 2000…. He was a bit conservative, it actually reached 6 billion in October of 1999)
Most countries are trying to reduce their growth rate. Zero population growth means that as many people are being born as they are dying. To achieve zero population growth, each couple would need to have no more than 2 children (to replace the parents). Even if this number is achieved, the population will continue to grow because the parents will still live on for decades, as their children have children, and their children have children…………………………………….
The rate of growth in developed nations has become more constant in recent years, while many developing nations are still growing exponentially.
Follow this link for a list of least developed countries: http://www.un.org/special-rep/ohrlls/ldc/list.htm
8. Select any 2 countries from the list & find the following data:
a. Population
b. Surface Area
c. Population Density
Use the following links to find the answers to 9a, b, & c.
http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html
http://geography.about.com/od/populationgeography/a/popdensity.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_the_United_States
9. Record the following data for the U.S.
a. Population
b. Surface Area
c. Population Density
“If the world is to save any part of its resources for the future, it must reduce not only consumption but the number of consumers.” –B.F. Skinner
The rapid growth of the world population has led to increased demand of Earth’s resources, many of which are being consumed at rates faster than they can be replenished. One hectare (100 acres) of tropical rainforest can be demolished in under an hour, but it takes over 30 years for that same area to regenerate.
“The key problem facing humanity in the coming century is how to bring a better quality of life—for 8 billion or more people—without wrecking the environment entirely in the attempt.” –Edward O. Wilson
Follow this link: http://www.ibiblio.org/lunarbin/worldpop
10. What is your exact birth date?
11. What was the world population at 12:00 am on your birth date?
12. What was the world population at 12:00 am on your first birthday?
13. What was the gain in world population your first year of life?
14. What was the world population at 12:00 am last January 1st?
15. What is the projected world population at 12:00 am next January 1st?
16. What is the expected gain in population this year?
17. Compare your data from question 11 and 14. What is happening to world population growth?
Follow this link: http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html
18. What is the exact time right now?
19. How many minutes have elapsed since you answered question #2?
20. What is the U.S. population right now?
21. What was the gain in U.S. population while you have been working on this activity?
22. What was the gain in population per minute over this activity? Show your work.
23. What was the population gain per second over this activity? Show your work.
24. How does this compare with the stated gain per second on the census web site?