Human Population Growth

Question 1

What is a population?

Answer 1

All the organisms of the same species that live in the same area at the same time.

Question 2

What is exponential growth?

Answer 2

A population that grows by a constant percentage each year, and beyond the usual predicted growth rate.

Question 3

What is a natural resource?

Answer 3

Part of the environment that supplies materials useful or necessary for the survival of living things.

Question 4

What is carrying capacity?

Answer 4

The largest number of individuals of one species that an ecosystem can support over time.

Question 5

What are limiting factors?

Answer 5

A factor that can limit the growth of a population.

For example; the amount of space, or water, or food available for the organisms in the population.

Question 6

What is a renewable resource?

Answer 6

A resource that can be replenished naturally.

For example sunlight, water, and wind.

Question 7

What is a non-renewable resource?

Answer 7

A resource that cannot be replenished after it is used.

For example fossil fuels, nuclear fuel and certain minerals.

Question 8

What has impacted human population growth?

Answer 8

Improved sanitation, reducing diseases like cholera and diphtheria;

improved healthcare and technology, increasing survival and average lifespan;

invention of vaccines, reducing infant mortality; improved hygiene.

Question 9

How has the increased human population impacted our natural resources?

Answer 9

Each person will need a minimum amount of resources such as space, water, and food. If these resources are used up faster than nature can replenish them, they will become diminished, leading to competition for resources.

Question 10

How does the age structure vary between developed vs developing countries?

Answer 10

Developing countries have fewer elderly members and more younger members due to poorer healthcare and shorter life expectancy. Additionally, people have more children as access to birth control is limited, and a larger number of children die before reaching adulthood.

Question 11

What are the key points for drawing graphs?

Answer 11

1 point = Label axes with units; 1 point = have a scale for the data on each axis; 1 point = use a ruler to draw all lines; 1 point = correctly plot the data points; 1 point = make the graph large enough.

Question 12

Give an example of limiting factors?

Answer 12

the amount of space, or water, or food available for the organisms in the population.

Question 13

Example of Renewable sources?

Answer 13

sunlight, water, and wind

Question 14

Give an example of non-renewable sources?

Answer 14

fossil fuels, nuclear fuel and certain minerals