[Math] 2D function for a party balloon

functionsgeometry

I searched some time over the web and this mathematics site without finding what I am searching for.

What I need is the 2D function of a simple balloon. Not an hot air balloon but a simple single-colored party balloon (without the knot at the bottom). Has anyone an idea for this?

Here an example for what I mean:

balloon

I only want the shape, not a complex function including the light effects, the knot or something else.

Of course, the upper part is just half of a circle, but I need some more exact function for the lower part.

Thanks for your help!

Best Answer

There's no physics here, but the polar graph $$ r = 1 + 0.375\operatorname{sech}(2.75(\theta + \tfrac{\pi}{2})) $$ is a good visual match for your image:

A profile of a fake balloon


Edit: I hit on the parameters after a fortuitously small number of tries. Here are images showing the profiles if the "width" or "height" (respectively) of the sech hump is varied:

Balloon: Varying the width of the hump Balloon: Varying the height of the hump