Human Population Web Quest Instructions
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Go to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/worldbalance/numbers.html
Read the paragraph and launch the interactive lesson online.
Use the interactive lesson pages (up to 10 of them) to answer the questions below.
Use the graph on the back page to record EVERY YEARS data.
Turn this completed paper in at the end of the class period.
HUMAN POPULATION WEB QUEST QUESTIONS
1.) What was the population of the world around the beginning of the first Millennium?
________________________________ Chart this value on the provided graph.
2.) What was the population in the year 1000? _______________________ Chart this value on the
graph.
3.) It took 1000 years to increase the population by __________________ humans. How many
years have passed since that time to present day?____________________________
4.)
In the year 1800, the population rose to __________________________. Chart this value on the
graph.
5.) What factors lead to the sudden increase in population? (be DETAILED with your answer!)
6.) In the 1800 years from year 0, how many humans were added to the population?_________
7.)
How many years did it take for the human population to double from its size in 1800?
_____________. Chart the population at that time _____________________________
8.) What factors led to the sharp increase in population size after 1927?
(BE SPECIFIC and USE COMPLETE SENTENCES!!!)
9.) From year zero, it took this many years to reach our first billion people ________________
10.) It took this many years to double this and reach two billion people __________________
11.) It took this many years to add yet another billion (3) people ___________ in year ________
12.) It took this many years to add another billion (4) people _______________ in year _______
13.) It took this many years to add another billion (5) people ______________ in year _______
14.) It took this many years to add another billion (6) people _______________ in year ______
15.) Look at question #3 ... It took 1000 years to increase the population by ________________
people. In the 1000 years since that time, the population has increased by ______________
16.) Be sure that all these population sizes are properly graphed on your population graph. What trend are
you seeing develop in the formation of the data points? What type of population growth line does this
appear to be?
17.) What is the estimated population size predicted to be in 2050________________________ Place this as
a point on the graph, BUT DO NOT INCLUDE IT IN YOUR LINE.
18.) Return to the internet browser and do an internet search on the current world population today. Record
the number and place it on the graph______________________________
19.) Draw a population curve through the data points on your graph up until the CURRENT DATE. DO
NOT USE THE 2050 PREDICTION. What does your graph indicate about the population growth
pattern of the human population?
20.) Is the growth rate of the human population speeding up or slowing down?
21.) What factors do you suppose are affecting changes in population growth?
22.) Do you believe the 2050 prediction is accurate? What leads you to this conclusion?
EXTRA CREDIT – 10 POINTS
Points will ONLY be awarded if ALL QUESTIONS are answered and the Graph is completed!
[5p] – Do an internet search on ACID RAIN. Write a very detailed description on the CAUSE of acid rain.
I DO NOT WANT THE DEFINITION! I want the causes for it.
[5p] Do an internet search for HABITAT DESTRUCTION. Write a paragraph on what causes this AND
how it affects the local ecosystems.
POPULATION GRAPH
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