diff --git a/examples/wave/wave-eager-mpi.py b/examples/wave/wave-eager-mpi.py
index 5971b2ab9317935316ae33406c09e07a903ac06b..b6ca9ae386874607fdaf31533952a013dbbe8c1e 100644
--- a/examples/wave/wave-eager-mpi.py
+++ b/examples/wave/wave-eager-mpi.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import numpy as np
 import numpy.linalg as la  # noqa
 import pyopencl as cl
 
-from pytools.obj_array import flat_obj_array, make_obj_array
+from pytools.obj_array import flat_obj_array
 
 from meshmode.array_context import PyOpenCLArrayContext
 from meshmode.dof_array import thaw
@@ -41,10 +41,6 @@ from mpi4py import MPI
 
 # {{{ wave equation bits
 
-def scalar(arg):
-    return make_obj_array([arg])
-
-
 def wave_flux(discr, c, w_tpair):
     u = w_tpair[0]
     v = w_tpair[1:]
@@ -53,14 +49,14 @@ def wave_flux(discr, c, w_tpair):
 
     flux_weak = flat_obj_array(
             np.dot(v.avg, normal),
-            normal*scalar(u.avg),
+            normal*u.avg,
             )
 
     # upwind
     v_jump = np.dot(normal, v.ext-v.int)
     flux_weak += flat_obj_array(
             0.5*(u.ext-u.int),
-            0.5*normal*scalar(v_jump),
+            0.5*normal*v_jump,
             )
 
     return discr.project(w_tpair.dd, "all_faces", c*flux_weak)
diff --git a/examples/wave/wave-eager-var-velocity.py b/examples/wave/wave-eager-var-velocity.py
index 1ea155cb7422a49b22d62c486c628f417d23cf42..194a1d654e602d5add77ea6d5722849001ca87b0 100644
--- a/examples/wave/wave-eager-var-velocity.py
+++ b/examples/wave/wave-eager-var-velocity.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import numpy as np
 import numpy.linalg as la  # noqa
 import pyopencl as cl
 
-from pytools.obj_array import flat_obj_array, make_obj_array
+from pytools.obj_array import flat_obj_array
 
 from meshmode.array_context import PyOpenCLArrayContext
 from meshmode.dof_array import thaw
@@ -39,10 +39,6 @@ from grudge.symbolic.primitives import TracePair, QTAG_NONE, DOFDesc
 
 # {{{ wave equation bits
 
-def scalar(arg):
-    return make_obj_array([arg])
-
-
 def wave_flux(discr, c, w_tpair):
     dd = w_tpair.dd
     dd_quad = dd.with_qtag("vel_prod")
@@ -54,13 +50,13 @@ def wave_flux(discr, c, w_tpair):
 
     flux_weak = flat_obj_array(
             np.dot(v.avg, normal),
-            normal*scalar(u.avg),
+            normal*u.avg,
             )
 
     # upwind
     flux_weak += flat_obj_array(
             0.5*(u.ext-u.int),
-            0.5*normal*scalar(np.dot(normal, v.ext-v.int)),
+            0.5*normal*np.dot(normal, v.ext-v.int),
             )
 
     # FIXME this flux is only correct for continuous c
@@ -68,7 +64,7 @@ def wave_flux(discr, c, w_tpair):
     c_quad = discr.project("vol", dd_quad, c)
     flux_quad = discr.project(dd, dd_quad, flux_weak)
 
-    return discr.project(dd_quad, dd_allfaces_quad, scalar(c_quad)*flux_quad)
+    return discr.project(dd_quad, dd_allfaces_quad, c_quad*flux_quad)
 
 
 def wave_operator(discr, c, w):
@@ -91,7 +87,7 @@ def wave_operator(discr, c, w):
     return (
             discr.inverse_mass(
                 flat_obj_array(
-                    -discr.weak_div(dd_quad, scalar(c_quad)*v_quad),
+                    -discr.weak_div(dd_quad, c_quad*v_quad),
                     -discr.weak_grad(dd_quad, c_quad*u_quad)
                     )
                 +  # noqa: W504
diff --git a/examples/wave/wave-eager.py b/examples/wave/wave-eager.py
index 4ac1a646810aab460c4969005dcc4db302624b8e..a8c4438217f5a09c03ddd9c00f3e1209b2edd49a 100644
--- a/examples/wave/wave-eager.py
+++ b/examples/wave/wave-eager.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import numpy as np
 import numpy.linalg as la  # noqa
 import pyopencl as cl
 
-from pytools.obj_array import flat_obj_array, make_obj_array
+from pytools.obj_array import flat_obj_array
 
 from meshmode.array_context import PyOpenCLArrayContext
 from meshmode.dof_array import thaw
@@ -39,10 +39,6 @@ from grudge.symbolic.primitives import TracePair
 
 # {{{ wave equation bits
 
-def scalar(arg):
-    return make_obj_array([arg])
-
-
 def wave_flux(discr, c, w_tpair):
     u = w_tpair[0]
     v = w_tpair[1:]
@@ -51,13 +47,13 @@ def wave_flux(discr, c, w_tpair):
 
     flux_weak = flat_obj_array(
             np.dot(v.avg, normal),
-            normal*scalar(u.avg),
+            normal*u.avg,
             )
 
     # upwind
     flux_weak += flat_obj_array(
             0.5*(u.ext-u.int),
-            0.5*normal*scalar(np.dot(normal, v.ext-v.int)),
+            0.5*normal*np.dot(normal, v.ext-v.int),
             )
 
     return discr.project(w_tpair.dd, "all_faces", c*flux_weak)