Guide 1314
HUMAN POPULATION
Directions: Read the information provided
and follow the links to answer the questions
in your notebook.
"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.
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.
If you’re reading this, good job. In your notebook write “I read the background” under
your title. 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.
1.
Click here: http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html
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What is the exact time right now (subtract 5 hours from the time given)?
What is the World population right now?
What is the U.S. population right now?
Calculate the percentage that the U.S. population makes up of the world population. (US pop/World pop)
2.
Click here: http://www.ined.fr/en/everything_about_population/play_population/population_me/
Then click on “Launch movie” in the box
5. What was the population when you were born?
6. What is the population today?
7. What has been the increase in the population during your lifetime?
3.
Click here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/worldbalance/demographer.html
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Make one observation about the fertility rates of all four countries.
Which country has the highest infant mortality rate? Why do you think?
Which countries have the lowest life expectancy?
Which countries have the most people under the age of 14?
Which country has the most migration (people coming into the country)? Why do you think?
Which country has the largest annual growth rate? The smallest annual growth rate?
What is each country’s predicted total population for 2050 (in millions of people)?
Guide 1314
4.
Go back to the US population data: http://www.census.gov/population/www/popclockus.html
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What is the exact time right now?
How many minutes have elapsed since you answered question # 2?
What is the US population right now?
What was the gain in US population while you have been working on this activity?
5.
KNOW YOUR STATS: Use the following links (and others you find) to answer the questions.
http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/ (look at the graph and use your mouse to scroll!)
http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/population-by-country/
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What is the current world population?
What is the projected population for 2050?
What is the annual global growth rate?
What countries have growth rates that are increasing?
What countries have growth rates that are decreasing?
What is the U.S. growth rate? Is it increasing or decreasing? Why?
EXTRA CREDIT
1. What has been the gain in population per minute over this activity? Show your work.
2. According to your data, there is a net gain of 1 person every how many seconds?
3. How does this compare with the stated net gain on the census web site?