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There are lots of different types of balloons. I'll give a quick rundown here. For a more in-depth explanation of a round balloon vs. a racer, see the Balloon Shapes page. I will include labeled pictures of each balloon type in the Photos and Videos page. Almost all balloons are used for a variety of applications, although some may be more suited for certain objectives.
Hoppers
Hoppers are the smallest balloons. They only carry one person. That person usually rides on either a chair or straddles the single propane tank they carry.
Round Balloons
Round balloons are the prototypical hot air balloon. They are characterized by their circular shape. They come in a wide variety of sizes, from hoppers to the largest balloons ever made. They are used for rides, competition, advertising, and generally any scenario a hot air balloon could be used for.
Racers
Racers are a specific type of balloon. They are characterized by their narrow teardrop or football shape. This shape makes them more aerodynamic, meaning they can ascend and descend through wind layers quicker. They are typically on the smaller side for the same reason. More often, they are used in competition events, but they are also able to carry passengers (depending on size) and banners.
Special Shapes
Special shapes are a unique category of balloon in that there isn't really an easy way to categorize them. Some are a simple round balloon or racer with "appendages" (added pockets of air that create limbs), while others are entirely unique shapes. They can be shaped like castles, boats, dragons, boots, or a wide variety of things. A great deal of engineering goes into making these shapes work. They are used for a variety of things, including advertising, rides, and even competition, although the unique shapes can make the aerodynamics somewhat cumbersome for pilots to navigate.
Yes, in typical applications. I won't say no definitively, because I am not the decision making arbiter in this case, however the rulebooks use of "...a goal..." and "... the goal..." in the singular, not plural, seems to indicate a single objective. Technically, the rules do not specify that competitors must be pursuing the same goal, so I'm not inclined to give a definite yes.
That said, in 99.99% of JDGs you will only see one goal, which the pilots are all aiming for individually. A version of a JDG where competitors aim for separate targets is Rule 15.3 HWZ.
A marker is any point that is scored to. It can be virtual or physical. For an explanation of a physical marker, see Markers. A virtual marker is an arbitrary point, recorded as a set of 4/4 Coordinates, which the competitors is digitally measured to.
A logger is, in other terms, a GPS. That GPS logs data for the duration of a pilot's flight. It also records virtual marker drops, which pilots make by pressing a button on their phones or another smart device. The logger does not make a virtual marker drop unless it is told to by some external device.
Sometimes. It is largely dependent on each task. For example, a Judge Declared Goal may simply be an X in a field, which requires the pilots to throw a physical marker at the center in order to achieve a result. It may also be an arbitrary, virtual point in the sky. In this case, it is a recorded event by a GPS logger. It is represented by coordinates and altitude data with no physical medium.
Tasks are ultimately decided by the competition director. In large events, this is its own separate role, responsible exclusively for the competitive balloons. In smaller weekend events, the competition director and organizer can be rolled into one.
In reality, there is often a large team providing input on the competitive tasks. The teams deciding these tasks can be quite large, and usually deliberate for a long time to develop an appropriate task string. In my opinion, the best task strings are achievable, challenging, and show intentionality in what they are testing rather than being a game to create something as difficult as possible.
The number of tasks balloons work on is ulitmately dependent on the task string that is called that day, but they can work on more than one at a time for sure.
A static display is when the balloon stands up, but never leaves the ground. It has a wide variety of use-cases.
The most common is a glow. A glow is typically held during a balloon event. It consists of one or more balloons inflating and standing up at night, with no intention of leaving the ground. Combining this with the liquid valve makes the envelope light up very bright allowing for amazing photo opportunities.
It can also be used to repair and test equipment or train.