Determination of physical parameters of liquids using simulations

The invention relates to determining physical parameters of a liquid using simulation. A method for determining a physical parameter of an unknown liquid to be drawn and/or dispensed by a laboratory automation device, comprising: determining a physical parameter of a pipette, the physical parameter comprising a geometric parameter of the pipette, comprising at least a tip radius of an orifice of the pipette; aspirating and/or dispensing an unknown liquid with a pipette of the laboratory automation device and measuring a measurement pressure curve in the pipette during aspirating and/or dispensing; determining a physical parameter of the unknown liquid by minimizing an objective function dependent on the difference between a simulated pressure curve that simulates the pressure in the pipette during aspiration and/or dispensing, and a measured pressure curve that simulates the pressure in the pipette during aspiration and/or dispensing; and a physical model of the laboratory automation equipment based on the ph