Human Population Growth KEY

 

1. It took 1649 years for the world population to double, going from .25 billion people to .50 billion people. How long did it take for the population to double once again? It doubled again between 1650 and 1850

2. How long did it take for the population to double a second time? ___75 years____ A third time? _______to 1976, 51 years

3. Based on your graph, in what year will the population reach 8 billion? ____answers vary, extend the curve out from the graph, possibly around 2015_________

4. Based on your graph, how many years will it take for the population of 2004 to double? ____also need to estimate, perhaps near 2050 if you extend the line to where 14 billion people would be

The Earth's Carrying Capacity

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.......... (text abbreviated)

Analysis

1. What factors contributed to the world's overall population growth in the last 150 years. Industrialization, health care, sanitation

2. Why does a population not level off during the same year it reaches zero population growth? Older people remain in the population, many generations can be represented.

3. If the carrying capacity of the earth was 9 billion people, when would this number be reached (according to your graph)? 2025 maybe

4. What will happen when the human population exceeds the earth's carrying capacity? death rates may increase due to starvation or disease