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Who'll stop the boom? 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 20th Century produced advances in medicine, sanitation and nutrition. Click here: U.S. Census 1. What is the exact time right now? 2. What is the U.S. population right now? Click Here: Demographia.com 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. Animated map 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: www.un.org Using the following link to answer #8. www.un.org 8. Select the country from the list that corresponds with your lab computer number, then find and record the following data: a. Population. b. Surface area. c. Population density. For number 1 use 101; For #2 use 103. For the rest, use your computer number. Click on the following link to answer #9. www.un.org 9. Find and 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 Click on: populationaction.org 10. What is your exact birth date? 11. What was the world population on your birth date? 12. What was the world population on you first birthday? 13. What was the world population on your 10th birthday? 14. What was the gain in world population your first year? 15. What was the world population at 12:00am last January 1st? 16. What is the projected world population in 2050? 17. What is the expected gain in population between now and 2050? 18. Compare your data from questions 11, 12, and 13! What is happening to world population growth? Go back to the US population data: Click on: U.S. Census 19. What is the exact time right now? 20. How many minutes have elapsed since you answered question # 2? 21. What is the US population right now? 22. What was the gain in US population while you have been working on this activity? 23. What has been the gain in population per minute over this activity? Show your work. 24. What was the population gain per second over this activity? 25. How does this compare with the stated gain per second on the census web site? ESA-U.N. population data tables |
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Quotable Quotes Quote of the moment: (Reload this page for a new quote)"To bring up a child in the way he should go, travel that way yourself once in a while." --Josh Billings[Sorry. Only this one quote for non-Java browsers] If you'd like to suggest a quote, send e-mail. |
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