Exponential Growth

Which of the following is the most complete statement about something that grows exponentially?

• it grows bigger and bigger

• it grows bigger fast

• it grows faster and faster

• the bigger it gets, the faster it grows

Imagine a lily pond. On day one, there is one lily pad in the pond. Every day the number of lily pads doubles, so there are two lily pads on day two, FOUR on day three, and so on. On day 30, the pond is completely full of lily pads. On what day is the pond half full of lily pads?

• day 2

• day 15

• day 29

Imagine a horrible pandemic, in which the number of sick people doubles every day. Today there are 400 people sick.

How many people were sick yesterday?

• 100

• 200

• 300

• 400

• 500

Imagine a horrible pandemic, in which the number of sick people doubles every day. Today there are 400 people sick.

How many people got sick between yesterday and today?

• 100

• 200

• 300

• 400

• 500

Imagine a horrible pandemic, in which the number of sick people doubles every day. Today there are 400 people sick.

How many people will be sick tomorrow?

• 200

• 400

• 600

• 800

Imagine you have invested $100 in an account that grows by 10% each year. How much money will you earn during the second year?

• $10

• $11

• $12

• $121

When something grows exponentially, like a pandemic or climate change, which statement is closer to the truth?

• It looks scary immediately, and people know they have to act.

• It's hard to tell what is happening, but scientist warn us that it is going to get worse quickly

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5

Imagine you have invested $100 in an account that grows by 10% each year. Is that exactly the same as putting $10 into your piggy bank each year?

• yes - they are both safe ways to increase your money, and after a few years, both will have grown by the same amount.

• no - the piggy bank is safer

• no - the bank investment grows faster each year. After several years you will have much more money than you would have in the piggy bank.

Nuclear fission is called a chain reaction, because each radioactive decay releases neutrons which trigger further decays. Does this reaction go:

• at a constant speed?

• faster and faster?

• slower and slower

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8