Distance relying on Shape of Balloon?

Question

So for my science fair project, I did what shape of balloon would travel further, the long and skinny kind you can use to make into animals, or the regular round type. Because of the way they're shaped, I thought that the long and skinny ones would go further. Well, we put the same number of pumps into each balloon, 10, and know it's close to the same amount because we used a balloon pump. But the round ones went the furthest, their distances varying from 10"1' to 10"11' . The long and skinny ones went from 5"8' to 9"2'. What causes this, assuming it relies only on the shape of the balloon and not other factors?
So basically, why do regular balloons travel longer than the long and skinny ones.

I doubt that it would be because of temperature--all of the balloons were inflated with the same amount of air and with a pump, rather than air that would have been heated by being inside my/partner's body.

oh, and using a straw, we attached the balloons to fishing line so they'd go in a straight line--basically, we did this:

http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/projects/air-power.html

the experiment was performed inside, in the same area, in the same direction, for every balloon, so basically, the circumstances were as similar as possible. Sheepish, you may be on to something, but let's assume I am not that bright. Let's assume you need to explain your third paragraph more thoroughly, because I am slow and am having a hard time understanding it.

Answer 1

I think you are most likely dealing with very complex aerodynamics situation here. The 'shape' of the baloons most likely are affected by factors such as the wind, air resistnace, etc.etc.

Assuming if you are not using helium gas or any other gas lighter than the atmospheris gas, then it would be simple.

The round, regular balloons are shaped closed to perfect spheres, or more precisely like a 'drop' shape. It is much more balanced in relative to the long balloons. The long shape makes it more susceptible to air resistance and cause instability, hence explaining the distance travelled.

Answer 2

It's a question of aerodynamics....

There's many kinds of friction that causes the ballons to slow down and stop. Skinny ones are longer and there is friction perpendicular to the direction of the balloon. For the regular ballons, they have more friction to the front, but less perpendicular to the direction of the balloon.

Answer 3

I don't like guesses, but this is one.

Perhaps the round balloons weigh less than the others.

If the air were much colder than the gas in the balloons, in the short term the round balloon has less surface area. The other would cool more quickly. The gas would become more dense than the gas in the round balloon.