Determining physical parameters of a liquid with simulation

A method for determining physical parameters of an unknown liquid to be aspirated and/or dispensed by a laboratory automation device, the method comprising:

• determining physical parameters of a pipette, the physical parameters including geometric parameters of the pipette, which at least include a tip radius of an orifice of the pipette;
• aspirating and/or dispensing the unknown liquid with a pipette of the laboratory automation device and measuring a measured pressure curve in the pipette during aspirating and/or dispensing;
• determining the physical parameters of the unknown liquid by minimizing an objective function depending on a difference between a simulated pressure curve and the measured pressure curve, wherein the simulated pressure curve simulates a pressure in the pipette during aspirating and/or dispensing and is calculated based on a physical model of the laboratory automation device including the physical parameters of the pipette, wherein the physical parameters of the unknown liquid are varied to minimize the objective function.