Chapter 8: Human Population Flashcards
Q: What is population density?
A: Population density is the number of people per unit area.
Q: Where are populations typically very high?
A: Populations are typically very high in coastal areas due to the availability of fresh water.
Q: What does population distribution refer to?
A: Population distribution refers to how the population is spread over an area.
Q: What is the lag phase in population growth?
A: The lag phase is when an organism is adapting to its new environment and growth is slow.
Q: What occurs during the log/exponential phase of population growth?
A: The growth rate of a population increases rapidly as all requirements are in superabundance.
Q: What is the stationary phase in population growth?
A: The stationary phase is when the growth rate slows to zero as the carrying capacity is reached.
Q: What is carrying capacity?
A: Carrying capacity is the maximum size of a population that an environment can support with available resources.
Q: How many people were living about 10,000 years ago?
A: About 5 million people were living as hunter-gatherers.
Q: When did human population reach 1 billion?
A: The human population reached 1 billion approximately 1800 years after modern counting began.
Q: What is the birth rate?
A: The birth rate is the number of live births per thousand of the population per year.
Q: What was the global population by 1930?
A: The global population was 2 billion by 1930.
Q: How much did the world population increase from 1975 to 2016?
A: It increased by over 3 billion, reaching over 7 billion by 2016.
Q: Why are birth rates high in countries with high infant mortality?
A: High infant mortality rates lead to higher birth rates as families have more children to ensure some survive.
Q: What is the death rate?
A: The death rate is the number of deaths per thousand of the population per year.
Q: What is a common migration trend in LEDCs?
A: The most common migration trend in LEDCs is from rural to urban areas.
Q: What is natural increase in population terms?
A: Natural increase is the difference between birth rate and death rate.
Q: What is migration?
A: Migration is the movement of people into (immigration) or out of (emigration) a region or country.
Q: What is the impact of pensions on birth rates in MEDCs?
A: In MEDCs, pensions reduce the need for children to provide care in old age, leading to lower birth rates.
Q: What are pull factors in migration?
A: Pull factors are conditions that attract people to a new area, such as well-paid jobs or good services.
Q: What are push factors in migration?
A: Push factors are conditions that encourage people to leave an area, such as drought or poverty.
Q: What does a population pyramid show?
A: A population pyramid shows the proportion of the population that is male and female in different age groups.
Q: What is an expanding (young) population pyramid?
A: An expanding pyramid has a high proportion of young people and is typical of LEDCs with high birth rates.
Q: What characterizes a stationary population pyramid?
A: A stationary pyramid is rectangular with a balanced proportion of different age groups and is typical of MEDCs.
Q: What is a contracting (old) population pyramid?
A: A contracting pyramid is top-heavy with a declining population due to low birth rates and low death rates, typical of countries like Japan.
Q: Who are considered dependants in a population?
A: Dependants are people who are not economically active, such as those under 16 and over 65.
Q: Who are considered independents in a population?
A: Independents are economically active people, typically aged between 17 and 65.
Q: What are the primary uses of taxes from the independent population?
A: Taxes are used for education, healthcare for the elderly, and providing services for dependants.
Q: What is family planning?
A: Family planning involves methods used by couples to decide the number and timing of their children.
Q: How does improved health and education affect population growth?
A: Improved health and education increase awareness of family planning methods and reduce birth rates.
Q: What is a pronatalist policy?
A: A pronatalist policy encourages couples to have more children, often through financial incentives and subsidies.
Q: What is an antinatalist policy?
A: An antinatalist policy aims to discourage high birth rates through measures like family planning and contraception.
Q: What is the impact of high infant mortality on family size?
A: High infant mortality leads to larger family sizes as parents have more children to ensure some survive.
Q: What role does contraception play in population control?
A: Contraception helps prevent unwanted pregnancies, thereby reducing birth rates.
Q: How do pensions influence family size in MEDCs?
A: Pensions reduce the need for children to support parents in old age, leading to smaller family sizes.
Q: Why might families in LEDCs have more children?
A: Families in LEDCs might have more children due to higher child mortality rates and the need for more labor.
Q: What is the effect of urban-to-rural migration in MEDCs?
A: Urban-to-rural migration in MEDCs is less common but occurs due to lifestyle choices or economic opportunities.
Q: What are examples of pull factors for migration?
A: Examples include good job opportunities, high-quality services, and favorable living conditions.
Q: What are examples of push factors for migration?
A: Examples include drought, famine, poverty, and poor services.
Q: What are seasonal weather events’ role in migration?
Q: How does desertification affect migration?
A: Desertification can push people to migrate away from areas affected by land degradation and loss of arable land.
Q: What is the role of reforestation in managing population size?
A: Reforestation can help improve environmental conditions, which may influence migration patterns and living conditions.
Q: What is the impact of high birth rates on infrastructure in LEDCs?
A: High birth rates can strain infrastructure and services, leading to challenges in providing adequate resources.
Q: What is the role of government in family planning?
A: Governments often promote family planning through education, providing contraception, and implementing policies to manage population growth.
Q: How do migration patterns affect urban areas?
A: Migration patterns can lead to urban overcrowding, increased demand for services, and changes in housing and infrastructure.
Q: What is the effect of migration on rural areas in LEDCs?
A: Migration can lead to depopulation of rural areas, affecting local economies and agriculture.
Q: What is the significance of population pyramids in understanding demographic trends?
A: Population pyramids help visualize age distribution and predict future population trends and needs.
Q: How do family planning programs contribute to population management?
A: Family planning programs help control birth rates, manage resources, and improve quality of life.
Q: What factors contribute to the high birth rates in some LEDCs?
A: Factors include high infant mortality, need for manual labor, and lower access to contraception.
