What's the difference between Avalanche and Ethereum?

Could you elaborate on the fundamental distinctions between Avalanche and Ethereum? I'm particularly interested in understanding how their consensus mechanisms differ, as well as the unique advantages each platform offers in terms of scalability, security, and decentralization. Additionally, I'm curious about the types of applications and projects that tend to prefer one blockchain over the other. It would be helpful if you could provide real-world examples to illustrate these differences. Thank you for your insights!