Measurements of balloon loudness and pressure signatures are presented for a variety of balloon shapes. The loudness and recordings were made 3.2 meters from the popped balloons. The balloons were of 3 types: round, long, and extremely long (the same type that is used to make balloon animals), filled with 3 gases, and inflated to multiple sizes. The data indicates that all 3 types of latex balloons share similar peak frequencies and acoustic signatures in spite of differences in shape and

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... er or length when inflated. The data also shows a correlation of loudness to the ratio of specific heats of the gas and inflated diameter of the balloons. The data does not support some of the common hypotheses of balloon popping noise generation. It appears that the sound is generated by the vibration of the balloon surface and the ruptured edge of the latex. This explanation is consistent with the current acoustic measurements and shadowgraph videos, and the hypothesis of Patynen, et al.