Final answer:
The normal reaction force and the weight of the ladder are the forces acting on the ladder at the top and bottom.
Step-by-step explanation:
The forces acting on the ladder at the top and bottom are the normal reaction force and the weight of the ladder.
At the top of the ladder, the normal reaction force is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the weight of the ladder. Since the ladder is in equilibrium, the magnitudes of these two forces are equal.
At the bottom of the ladder, the normal reaction force is equal in magnitude to the weight of the ladder plus the weight of the person. So the magnitude of the normal reaction force at the bottom is greater than the magnitude of the weight of the ladder.