World Population Growth
NAME_____________________________
Graphing Activity Part A:
Carefully plot the following data either by hand, using LoggerPro, or simply using Create A Graph website
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx
The data depicts an estimate of world population at different time periods in history. Plot the population, in billions, on the
“Y” axis. Plot time on the “X” axis. Start at 8000BC and let each time interval equal 100 years. Sketch the graph below.
Data:
Time
Population
8000 BC
4 million
4000 BC
7 million
500 BC
100 million
500 AD
200 million
1000 AD
250 million
1500
400 million
1700
600 million
1900
1.6 billion
1950
2.5 billion
1980
4.5 billion
2000
6.1 billion
Questions:
1- How long does it take the population to double from the initial value in 8000BC? 500BC? 1700? 1900? 1950? 1980?
2- What will be the pattern of growth after 2000? Is this realistic?
Graphing Activity Part B:
Year
Population Growth 1000-2200
Population in Billions Year
Population in Billions
1000
0.31
1960
3.02
1250
0.40
1970
3.81
1500
0.50
1980
4.52
1750
0.79
1985
4.86
1800
0.98
1990
5.26
1850
1.26
1995
5.61
1900
1.65
2000
6.10
1910
1.75
2025
8.47
1920
1.86
2050
10.02
1930
2.07
2100
11.19
1940
2.30
2150
11.54
1950
2.52
2200
11.59
1- Plot this data on a graph with time on the X axis and Population on the Y-axis. Be careful in setting up the scales. The time
interval should be 10 year intervals.
2- How does graph B compare with graph A from above? Explain the shape of the lines.
3- Is the plot of the Graph B data exponential? Why or why not? What does the population growth look like for the years
beyond 2200? How does carrying capacity come into play?