"Appal Energy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
"Dr. Nering made no claims or stipulations about population growth in his analogy. Rather, he used actual estimated increases in global energy consumption. The 5% growth per annum which he "assumed" is a global reality. Whether the percentage remains, increases or decreases from 5% was not his primary point. (Mind you, if the percentage changes, it will be by human choices, no matter what direction it turns.) The increase in global consumption is not only due to population increase, but flat out consumption increase by other countries adopting western "uncivilization" consumption patterns." No matter how you slice and dice it, 5% growth IS a simple exponential, because that growth is at least implicitly compound (if linear, you have to specify a base). And assuming a continued simple exponential growth of ANYTHING is palpable nonsense. You can have a lot of fun demonstrating that the Universe will be devoured in X years, but all you're really demonstrating is that the model is invalid. No doubt the students will remember - I only hope they remember to question! Marc de Piolenc Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Please do NOT send "unsubscribe" messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
