You scrunch up three same-size sheets of aluminum foil to form three balls 1,2, and 3, and stick each one onto the end of a wooden stake (which allows you to transport the balls without touching them). You place the stakes holding balls 1 and 2 an arm's length apart and then give each ball charge \(q\). Call the electric force exerted by ball 1 on ball \(2 \vec{F}_{12}^{E}\). You then place charge \(-2 q\) on ball 3 and bring it first in contact with ball 1 . Then you move it away from ball 1 and bring it in contact with ball 2 .

(a) Once you have moved ball 3 far away from balls 1 and 2, what is the magnitude, in terms of \(F_{12}^{E}\), of the electric force between balls 1 and 2? 

(b) Has the direction of \(\vec{F}_{12}^{E}\) changed?