The growth rate of the world's population is about 1.2% annually (down from 2.0% in 1972). in the year 2006 the population was about 6.6 billion. (a) determine the growth constant and doubling time which correspond to the present growth rate. (b) if the population continues to grow at 1.2% per year, what will the world's population be in 2030? (e) if the average mass of a person is 70 kg, how long would it take until the mass of people equals the mass of earth, assuming population growth of 1.2% per year? the mass of earth is 5.98 x 1024 kg.
answers 2-1. (a) 0.012 yr-1, 58 yr (b) 8.7 billion (c) 2.5x103 yr, a short time in the history of humanity