There are usually 3 topics used to compare types of radiation:
Ionising ability
Penetrative power
Range in air
Ionising ability
Alpha radiation has strong ionising ability, while beta only has moderate ionisation and gamma is very weakly ionising.
Penetrative power
Alpha particles are weakly penetrating, stopped by paper, while beta particles have stronger penetrating ability, stopped by skin and gamma radiation is very strongly penetrating, stopped only by thick layers of lead.
Range in air
Alpha particles- range of only a few centimetres
Beta - range of up to one meter
Gamma- infinite range in air.
Hope this helps:)
