Human Population Growth Worksheet Template (Page 2 of 4) in pdf

Human Population Growth Worksheet Template Page 2

B. EXAMPLE: The population changes at a constant rate over time.

Same room, different party. At the beginning of the party (N

), there are ten people at your party.

Every hour eight more people join and six leave, with a gain of two people per hour. How many

people are partying three hours later?

B. Friday night's attendance

N(t) = N

+ (B-D)/hr *t

N(3) = 10 + (8-6)/hr *3hrs

N(3) = 10+ (2*3) = 16 people

This produces a population growth

curve that is a straight line with a

positive slope.

(1 point)

time (hours)

3. Use the graph to determine how many people are in the room 5 hours after the party

started.

4. Using the equation above, calculate how many are in the room 5 hours after the party

started. Does your calculation agree with the graph? (show how you set up the problem)

C. EXAMPLE: The population changes at an exponential rate over time.

This is the rate of population growth when there are no limitations on resources (food, land,

etc.). The variable are the same as in the two previous examples, but the equation is different.

N(t) = N

(“initial population times, e to the [r times t]“)

N(t)= number of people in the population at any given time

= number of the original population

r = rate of increase of the population

t = time

e is the base of the natural logarithm

5. Use the exponential equation given above to determine the world population size when

you graduate. (1 point)

r = 0.0114 (or, 1.14%)

= 6,525,486,603 (the population in 2006)

t = (4 years, when you will graduate [assuming you’re a freshman])

6. Assume that you will have a child in the year 2012. What will the population be when

your child is the same age you are now? (1 point) (show how you set up the problem)

= 6,525,486,603 (the population in 2006)

r = 0.0114

t = (6 years from now + your present age)

Human Population Growth Worksheet Template Page 2