Adopted from: http://www.shenet.org/High/hsacaddept/science/jstdenis/human_population_growth_web_quest.htm
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?
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/specialrep/ohrlls/ldc/list.htm
8.a. How many developing countries are in Africa? Name two.
b. How many developing countries are in Asia? Name one.
c. How many developing countries are in Latin America and the Caribbean? Name two.
.
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.
Click on: http://www.ibiblio.org/lunarbin/worldpop
9. What is your exact birth date?
10. What was the world population at 12:00 am on your birth date?
11. What was the world population at 12:00am on you first birthday?
12. What was the gain in world population your first year?
13. What was the world population at 12:00am last January 1st?
14. What is the projected world population at 12:00am next Jan.1st?
15. What is the expected gain in population this year?
16. 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
17. What is the exact time right now?
18. How many minutes have elapsed since you answered question # 2?
19. What is the US population right now?
20. What was the gain in US population while you have been working on this activity?
21. What has been the gain in population per minute over this activity? Show your work.
22. What was the population gain per second over this activity?
23. How does this compare with the stated gain per second on the
census web site?
"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
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)
Human Population Web Quest
1. What is the exact time right now?
2. What is the U.S. population right now?
3. Where is New York ranked among state populations?
4. What percent of people in the US live in New York?
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?
8.a. How many developing countries are in Africa? Name two.
b. How many developing countries are in Asia? Name one.
c. How many developing countries are in Latin America and the Caribbean? Name one.
9. What is your exact birth date?
10. What was the world population at 12:00 am on your birth date?
11. What was the world population at 12:00am on you first birthday?
12. What was the gain in world population your first year?
13. What was the world population at 12:00am last January 1st?
14. What is the projected world population at 12:00am next Jan.1st?
15. What is the expected gain in population this year?
16. What is happening to world population growth?
17. What is the exact time right now?
18. How many minutes have elapsed since you answered question # 2?
19. What is the US population right now?
20. What was the gain in US population while you have been working on this activity?
21. What has been the gain in population per minute over this activity? Show your work.
22. What was the population gain per second over this activity?
23. How does this compare with the stated gain per second on the census web site?
1. What is the exact time right now?
Human
2. What is the U.S. population right now?
3. Where is New York ranked among state populations?
4. What percent of people in the US live in New York?
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?
8.a. How many developing countries are in Africa? Name two.
b. How many developing countries are in Asia? Name one.
c. How many developing countries are in Latin America and the Caribbean? Name one.
9. What is your exact birth date?
10. What was the world population at 12:00 am on your birth date?
11. What was the world population at 12:00am on you first birthday?
12. What was the gain in world population your first year?
13. What was the world population at 12:00am last January 1st?
14. What is the projected world population at 12:00am next Jan.1st?
15. What is the expected gain in population this year?
16. What is happening to world population growth?
17. What is the exact time right now?
18. How many minutes have elapsed since you answered question # 2?
19. What is the US population right now?
20. What was the gain in US population while you have been working on this activity?
21. What has been the gain in population per minute over this activity? Show your work.
22. What was the population gain per second over this activity?
23. How does this compare with the stated gain per second on the census web site?
Population Web Quest