Lab Assignment: Population Dynamics
Use the following formula to complete the charts below: pf = pi * ert
Where:
pf = final population
pi = initial population
e = a physical constant whose value is 2.7183
r = rate of growth
t = time (doubling time)
Change the rate of growth into a decimal by dividing by 100.
Use either your calculator that has an ex function.
Example:
pi = 5.2 X 109 (initial population of 5.2 billion people in developing countries)
t = 39 years (from table 1)
r = 1.8% (from table 1)
r = 1.8% = 0.018
Multiply r and t 0.018 * 39 = 0.702
Pf = 5.2 * (e0.702)
On calculator, enter 0.702, then INV, then ex
Pf = 5.2 * (2.02)
Pf = 10.49 or 10.5 X 109
Or 10.5 billion people
Table 1: Growth Rates and Doubling Times for Various Countries
Region
|
Growth Rate (%)
|
Doubling Time (years)
|
World
|
1.4
|
50
|
Developed Countries
|
0.4
|
175
|
Developing Countries
|
1.8
|
39
|
Africa
|
2.5
|
28
|
Asia
|
1.6
|
44
|
United States
|
1.0
|
70
|
Mexico
|
1.7
|
41
|
Europe
|
0.2
|
350
|
Russia
|
0.3
|
233
|
Oceania
|
1.5
|
47
|
Exercise One:
Part A: Using information from table 1, fill in the chart below and then calculate the final population for each.
Part B: Using information from table 1, fill in Part B of the chart but use the developed countries' doubling time.
|
Region
|
r (%)
|
dt (years)
|
Pi (X 109)
|
Pf (X 109)
|
A
|
Developing
|
|
|
4.7
|
|
|
Developed
|
|
|
1.2
|
|
|
United States
|
|
|
0.303
|
|
|
Mexico
|
|
|
0.107
|
|
|
Africa
|
|
|
0.048
|
|
B
|
Developing
|
|
**
|
4.7
|
|
**Use doubling time of developed countries
Exercise Two:
Calculate the final population for developed nations where (r) starts at 0.6 and decreases by 0.1 percent every ten years until (r) = 0.0 percent (ZPG). The final population becomes the initial population for the next ten year period.
r (%)
|
t (years)
|
Pi (X 109)
|
Pf (X 109)
|
0.6
|
10
|
1.2
|
|
0.5
|
10
|
|
|
0.4
|
10
|
|
|
0.3
|
10
|
|
|
0.2
|
10
|
|
|
0.1
|
10
|
|
|
0.0
|
10
|
|
|
Calculate the final population for developing nations where (r) starts at 2.0 percent and decreases by 0.4 percent every ten years until (r) = 0.0 percent (ZPG). Remember, the final population becomes the initial population for the next ten years.
r (%)
|
t (years)
|
Pi (X 109)
|
Pf (X 109)
|
2.0
|
10
|
4.7
|
|
1.6
|
10
|
|
|
1.2
|
10
|
|
|
0.8
|
10
|
|
|
0.4
|
10
|
|
|
0.2
|
10
|
|
|
0.0
|
10
|
|
|
Using information from exercise one, answer the following questions.
1. Which country/region (do not consider the first three lines of information) has the highest growth rate? The lowest? How do you account for this difference?
2. Why do some countries/regions have a shorter or lower doubling time?
3. What would happen to the final population of developing countries if their growth rate is maintained over a developed countries doubling time?
Using information from exercise two, answer the following questions:
1. How do the final populations of developed regions and developing regions compare when zero population growth is reached?
2. Why were the growth rates used in this exercise different for developed and developing countries?
3. What strategies may the developing countries start using right now to decrease the population growth rate?
4. What do you think is most important for the developed world and the developing world, respectively, to decrease the rate of population growth or to decrease the per capita energy consumption and why?
Attachment:- Population-Dynamics-Introduction.rar