An Alternative Example of the Method of Multiple Scales

An alternative example of the method of multiple scales is presented. This example arises in the study of the classical heat equation with a slowly varying flux imposed at one end. The module presents introductory ideas about dimensionless variables, multiple-scale expansions, and scaling of the dependent variable. The necessarily obfuscating algebraic computation is less than that for more familiar multiple-scale examples, such as the perturbed oscillator. The results are analyzed for both their physical and mathematical importance.