Human Population
Growth
Web Quest
| "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 education of the billions who are its victim." --Martin Luther King, Jr. |
Read the information provided and follow the links to answer the questions on your separate answer sheet.
Worries about human population growth are not a new phenomena. A little over 200 years ago (1798) 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 and 5 billion by the late 1980's. On October 12th 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 2oth Century produced advances in medicine, sanitation and nutrition.
Click
here: http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/popclock
1. What is the exact time right now?
2. What is the U.S. population right now?
Click Here: http://www.demographia.com/db-2000stater.htm
3. Where is New York ranked among state
populations?
4. What percent of people in the US live in New York?
Click on the topic "Animated Map" and watch. 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 absolutely! 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 that world population would reach 6 billion near the year 2000, but his prediction was conservative: we passed the 6 billion mark in October 1999.)
|
Most
countries are trying to reduce their growth rate. Zero population growth
means that as many people are being born as there are dying. To achieve zero
population growth, each couple would need to have no more than two 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.
Click Here for a list of least developed countries: http://www.un.org/special-rep/ohrlls/ldc/list.htm
8.Select
any two countries from the list and find the following data:
a. Population.
b. Surface area.
c. Population density.
After selecting your second country, click on Go Back to World Map
link. http://www.cyberschoolbus.un.org/infonation/index.asp
Click on U.S. on map.
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 (Intro. to Walden Two, 1976 edition) |
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, 10,000 square meters) of
tropical rainforest can be demolished in under an hour, but it takes over thirty
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 |
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 12:00am on you first birthday?
13. What was the gain in world population your first year?
14. What was the world population at 12:00am last January 1st?
15. What is the projected world population at 12:00am next Jan.1st?
16. What is the expected gain in population this year?
17. Compare your data from question 22 and 25! What is happening
to world population growth?
Go back to the US population data: http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/popclock
18. What is the exact time right now?
19. How many minutes have elapsed since you answered question
# 2?
20. What is the US population right now?
21. What was the gain in US population while you have been
working on this activity?
22.
What has been the gain in population per minute over this
activity? Show your work.
23. What was the population gain
per second over this activity?
24. How does this compare with the
stated gain per second on the
census web site?
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