the physics.So, for example, when the conservation of momentum law says that the sum of momenta before a collision will equal the sum of momenta after a collision(and thats all it says by the way) you can translate the English into math shorthand. And SUM(p) = SUM(P) where p are the momenta before a collision and P are momenta after, is a start.......
When you fully understand the laws and definitions so you can recite them and make your younger sibling understand them, you then turn to describing those laws in shorthand. And that shorthand is of course all those equations. Math is just a shorthand language for precisely and accurately describing the laws of nature, the physics.
So, for example, when the conservation of momentum law says that "the sum of momenta before a collision will equal the sum of momenta after a collision" (and that's all it says by the way) you can translate the English into math shorthand. And SUM(p) = SUM(P) where p are the momenta before a collision and P are momenta after, is a start. And now you know what it means.
Once you can articulate the laws and their definitions, derive the equations found in your reading assignment. Don't memorize them, derive them using the physics you now know. Deriving what one needs is how real physicists do it. There are way fewer laws of nature to memorize than there are equations to explain them.
Though sixty symbols is great, I think that in order to be a great physicist you must become interested in what you are learning. This is why I think you should check out this link...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxeb3Pc4PA4&list=PLED25F943F8D6081C
Unlike sixty symbols, this youtube channel will actually keep you interested, while educating you simultaneously.
If you are rather having trouble with physics problems, I advise you to check out this next link which teaches you how to solve problems given in the physics classroom.
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics
Hopefully this helps you get better marks!
There is a brilliant youtube series called Sixty Symbols. It is about physics and is very informative. It should help.
http://www.youtube.com/user/sixtysymbols