ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Thomas Napier Thomson

Thomas Napier Thomson was a man who lived a long time ago and did some important things. He was born in Scotland in the 19th century, a really long time ago. He was a mathematician, which means he really liked numbers and figuring out how they work.

One of the things he's most famous for is something called Thomson's theorem, which he discovered. This has to do with electricity. You know how sometimes when you rub a balloon against your hair, it sticks to the wall? That happens because of electricity!

Thomson's theorem helps us understand how electricity flows through different materials. It's like understanding how water flows through pipes or how a car moves on the road. Scientists and engineers use Thomson's theorem to design all sorts of things, from power stations to computers.

Thomson also did other things, like being a professor and writing books. He was a really smart guy, but he also liked to help other people learn about math and science. Even though he lived a long time ago, we still remember him today because of all the important things he did.