Population Growth?

Question

I am writing a series of Science Fiction short stories based on a colony ship carrying 150,000 people landing on a habitable planet. I need a realistic formula for determining how that starting population would grow over a time range from a couple of months to 250 years. Links for further reading on this subject would be greatly appreciated, I can't find anything.

Answer 1

You need the formula for a sigmoid curve. The population will, under good conditions, rise slowly (lag phase), then take off abruptly (log phase). As the population approaches the carrying capacity, it will level off.