3.1 Population Dynamics

Essential Idea

Assessment Statements

• 3.1.1 Describe the nature, and explain the implications, of exponential growth in human populations.

• 3.1.2 Calculate and explain, from data, the values of crude birth/death rate, fertility, doubling time and natural increase rate.

• 3.1.3 Analyze age/sex pyramids and diagrams showing demographic transition models.

• 3.1.4 Discuss the use of models in predicting the growth of human populations.

Key Vocabulary

• Crude birth rate (cbr)

• Crude death rate (cdd)

• Fertility

• Doubling time (dt)

• Natural increase rate (NIR)

• Age/sex pyramid

• Demographic transition

Notes

Learning Activities

Population Growth Calculations

Practice calculating cbr, cdr, NIR, population growth and doubling time.

Creating a Population Pyramid

The steps involved in constructing a Population Pyramid on your computer.

Modeling a Community Population

Assignment outline for survey-based investigation.

Supplemental Readings

Supplemental Videos

This video outlines what population pyramids are and how they can be used to predict the future needs of a population. The video includes comparisons between several countries so demonstrate how their respective population pyramids can be interpreted.

This video explores the impact of limiting factors, ecological footprints andculture on human population growth.

This video examines the issues driving human population growth using very simple demonstrations and digital effects.

This video examines the "myth" that population growth is linked to particular religions of the world.

This video describes the trends and reasons associated with human population growth and consumption.