POPULATION GROWTH

While population growth is a topic not normally incorporated into a course on environmental chemistry, it is an important consideration in any environmental topic. Progress made in improving or slowing the degradation of earth's air, water, and soil in the U.S. and some other areas is threatened by our relentlessly growing human numbers. This assignment provides an introduction to the impact of population growth.

The word growth is used in many societal, economic, demographic and environmental contexts including growth of the economy, growth of the population, growth of impervious surfaces (as it pertains to flood hazards) growth of food production, and growth of energy use. Assessing the impact of growth requires use of simple mathematics such as the compound interest equation. calculator

For this assignment, you need a calculator capable of performing logarthmic calculations. Unfamiliar with such calculations? Samples of keystrokes can be accessed by passing your mouse over the calculator icon. Try it.