Two metallic spheres A and B are placed on nonconducting stands. Sphere A carries a positive charge, and sphere B is electrically neutral. The two spheres are connected to each other via a wire, and the charge carriers reach a new electrostatic equilibrium.

(a) Is the electric potential energy of the charge configuration after the spheres are connected greater than, smaller than, or equal to that of the original configuration?

(b) Before the spheres are connected, is the potential difference between A and B positive, negative, or zero? Is it positive, negative, or zero after the spheres are connected?