Final answer:
The maximum tension that the glass optical fiber could support without breaking is 20.3 MN.
Step-by-step explanation:
The maximum tension that the glass optical fiber could support without break is determined by its tensile strength. Given that the glass has a tensile strength of 51.9*10^9 N/m^2 and a diameter of 13.1 μm, we can calculate the maximum tension.
The formula for calculating the maximum tension is:
T = (π * d^2 * σ) / 4
where T is the maximum tension, d is the diameter of the fiber, and σ is the tensile strength of the glass.
By plugging in the values, we get:
T = (π * (13.1 * 10^-6)^2 * 51.9 * 10^9) / 4 = 20.3 MN
Therefore, the glass optical fiber could support a maximum tension of 20.3 MN before it breaks.