<p>It’s actually not as bad as you think. Granted, if you’ve never taken calculus before, some symbols might look dementing at first. Over time, you’ll grow accustomed to it. </p>
<p>Also, if you have some physics knowledge, you will notice that a lot of formulas are similar to each other. This is because most of the algebraic formulas can be derived from the calculus formulas. For instance, Power is the change in energy over change in time. Typically, in Physics B, this is average power. However, if we want the power at a specific point in time, we would want to take the limit of the quotient as the change in time approches 0 (to have the power at a specific point in time, where change in time is esscentially 0). What we have is a calculus equation: Power equals the derivative of energy with respect to time: P = dE/dt. If we want to know the average total energy used in a time period, we would use the algebraic equation Pt = E. However, if we want the exact total energy used in a time period, we would take our equation for power (P = dE/dt), multiply both sides by dt, and then take the integral of both sides. Then we have another form of the same equation. (Take Calculus if you didn’t understand what I just said.)</p>
<p>My advise is to make sure you are familiar with the algebraic formulas (those on the equation sheet for Physics B). Then, once you have learned the respective formula in Physics C during the school year, try to derive the algebraic formula from Physics B, and understand under what cases is that true. You will learn much more information about the concept behind it that way (not all of it obviously).</p>
<p>By the way, I memorized every equation, Algebraic and Calculus formulas, just to save time in class deriving things. Plus, in case I forget something, I know either the algebraic or calculus formula, and base the formula I need on that.</p>