The retired Professor of Physics from the University of Colorado in Boulder examines the arithmetic of steady growth, continued over modest periods of time, in a finite environment. These concepts are applied to populations and to fossil fuels such as petroleum and coal.
"The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function."
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Full Version: Arithmetic, Population, And Energy
Excellent!
Dr. Bartlett does a wonderful job explaining the relationship of energy recourses, consumption, and population growth. He demonstrates how even small increases in energy consumption can/will have a devastating impact on natural resources, including coal. It has been widely reported that America has enough coal to last 500 years at current rates of consumption. If rates of consumption are increased as planned, that resource will vanish much faster than one might expect.
Bartlett does the simple math, and explains the impact of the results in a clear and lucid manner - very well done.
Thanks
Dr. Bartlett does a wonderful job explaining the relationship of energy recourses, consumption, and population growth. He demonstrates how even small increases in energy consumption can/will have a devastating impact on natural resources, including coal. It has been widely reported that America has enough coal to last 500 years at current rates of consumption. If rates of consumption are increased as planned, that resource will vanish much faster than one might expect.
Bartlett does the simple math, and explains the impact of the results in a clear and lucid manner - very well done.
Thanks
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