Final answer:
Graphically, exponential growth appears as a J-shaped curve on a plot where time is on the x-axis and population size is on the y-axis, indicating that the population size grows at an increasingly faster rate over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Exponential growth, when graphed, appears as a J-shaped curve. This pattern of population growth is observed when a population has abundant resources and the environment does not limit growth. In exponential growth, the population begins with a slow growth rate. However, as the population size increases, the growth rate also increases.
Over time, if plotted on a graph with time on the x-axis and population size on the y-axis, the representation of this growth forms the classic J-shape, which shows the rapid rise in population numbers. It's important to note that this model of growth assumes unlimited resources, which is not typically sustainable in a real-world environment.
Eventually, when resources become limited, the population growth rate will slow down and enter a phase known as logistic growth. During logistic growth, the population expansion decreases as resources become scarce, leveling off when the carrying capacity of the environment is reached, resulting in an S-shaped curve on the graph.