AP Environmental Science Flashcards: Human Population Dynamics
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 11 cards to help you master important concepts.
Malthusian Theory
Malthusian theory sets forth basic factors that limit human population growth, which is considered a major constraint on the global human population.
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Malthusian Theory
Malthusian theory sets forth basic factors that limit human population growth, which is considered a major constraint on the global human population.
Provide an example of a density-dependent factor that can limit human population growth.
An example of a density-dependent factor is disease transmission, which can spread more easily in larger, denser populations.
Identify two types of limiting factors for human population growth mentioned in the text.
The two types of limiting factors mentioned are density-independent factors (e.g., major storms) and density-dependent factors (e.g., food availability).
What is the Rule of 70?
The Rule of 70 is a calculation that approximates a population's doubling time by dividing the number 70 by the percentage population growth rate.
What are the primary demographic factors that determine if a human population is growing or declining?
Birth rates, infant mortality rates, and overall death rates are the primary demographic factors that determine whether a human population is growing or declining.
What is a density-dependent factor in population dynamics?
A density-dependent factor is a variable whose impact on a population's growth is related to the population's size, such as access to clean water, food availability, or disease transmission.
How does access to good nutrition affect population dynamics?
Access to good nutrition is a factor that affects whether a human population is growing or declining, often by influencing birth and death rates.
List three social factors that can influence human population growth.
Social factors affecting population growth include access to family planning, access to education, and the postponement of marriage.
A country has a population growth rate of 3.5%. Using the Rule of 70, what is its approximate doubling time?
The population's approximate doubling time is 20 years (70 / 3.5 = 20).
What is a density-independent factor in population dynamics?
A density-independent factor is an event that affects a population's growth regardless of its size or density, such as major storms, fires, heat waves, or droughts.
What are two major factors that limit the global human population?
Two major factors limiting the global human population are the Earth's carrying capacity and the basic limiting factors described in Malthusian theory.